Effect of Time Duration in Injecting Subcutaneous Low Molecular Weight Heparin (LMWH) on Pain and Bruising among Patients with Myocardial Infarction (MI)

Subcutaneous administration of Low Molecular Weight Heparin (LMWH) results in the side effects at the injection site – hematoma, ecchymosis, bruising and pain. This creates a challenge for the nurses to attempt to minimize hematoma and bruise formation during the treatment regime.

The objective of this study was to assess the effect of time duration in injecting subcutaneous Low Molecular Weight Heparin (LMWH) on pain and bruising among patients with Myocardial Infarction (MI) admitted in a selected hospital at Ernakulam district, in Kerala.

A quantitative research approach was used with quasi experimental within subject design. The sample consisted of 30 patients receiving Low Molecular Weight Heparin admitted with MI. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used to measure the pain after the injection & millimeter scale was used to measure the bruising at 24 & 48 hrs after the injection. The collected data was analyzed using descriptive & inferential statistics.

The mean pain score (45.71) during the standard technique (10 seconds) was greater than the mean pain score (25.38) during the modified technique (30 seconds). The mean bruise score at 24 hrs for 10 seconds duration was 16.98 and 30 seconds duration was 14.36. The mean bruise score at 48 hrs for 10 seconds duration was 18.2 and 30 seconds duration was 15.55. Findings also revealed that there was a significant association between certain demographic variables like age, education, LMWH dose & renal disease.

Slow injection of LMWH over 30 seconds helps in reducing pain and occurrence of bruise at the injection site. This can be applied in nursing practice to enable to improve the patient comfort and outcome.