A prospective sonographic evaluation of peripheral intravenous catheter associated thrombophlebitis.

Our study found that the increased proportion of catheter relative to vein size and steeper catheter tip angle increased the risk of thrombophlebitis. Catheter size relative to vein size is a modifiable factor that should be considered when inserting PIVCs. Additional larger prospective investigations using objective methodologies are needed to further characterize complications in PIVCs.