USE OF INTRAVENOUS CANNULAE BY JUNIOR HOSPITAL DOCTORS

One hundred junior hospital doctors were surveyed to investigate their use of intravenous cannulae. Anaesthetists inserted more cannulae per day than non-anaesthetists and were more likely to use local anaesthe tic and wear gloves, although most doctors never or rarely did so. Ana esthetists were also more knowledgeable than non-anaesthetists about t he sizes of cannulae they used and the sizes available, although there was considerable ignorance overall in this regard. Many doctors regul arly place themselves at risk and expose their patients to unnecessary pain during intravenous cannula insertion. and have little knowledge about the cannulae they use.