Effect of indwelling time of intravenous indwelling needle on the marginal ear veins of white rabbis

Objective To investigate the effects of indwelling time of venous indwelling needle on the expression level of vascular endothelial injury markers in the marginal ear veins of white rabbits.

Methods Using the random number table method, 60 New Zealand white rabbits were divided into control group, 4-day catheterization group (catheterization for 4 days, infusion for 4 times), 6-day catheterization group (catheterization for 6 days, infusion for 6 times), 8-day catheterization group (catheterization for 8 days, infusion for 8 times), 10-day catheterization group (catheterization for 10 days, infusion for 10 times) (12 rabbits in each group). Except for the control group, the white rabbits in the other groups were treated with an indwelling needle for venipuncture. A total of 30 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride solution was injected intravenously, and the tube was sealed with 2–3 mL of 15 u/mL heparin saline after each infusion. The time of puncture and intravenous infusion was the same in each group. The content of C-reactive protein in white rabbit ear vein blood was detected by automatic biochemical analyzer; the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-4, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), 6-keto-prostacyclin F1α (6-keto-PGF1α), thromboxane B2 (TXB2), endothelin-1 (ET-1), and levels of von Willebrand factor (vWF) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in marginal ear veins were measured using ELISA. HE staining was used to detect the pathological changes of marginal ear veins in each group of rabbits. Western blotting was used to detect the thrombomodulin (TM) protein in marginal ear veins.

Results There was no statistical significance in the levels of C-reactive protein, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-4, TGF-β, 6-keto-PGF1α, TXB2, ET-1, vWF, NOS and TM protein, and pathological injury of venous vessels among the 4-day catheterization group, 6-day catheterization group and control group (P ＞ 0.05). Compared with the control group, the pathological injury of venous vessels was severe, the levels of C-reactive protein, TNF-α, IL-6, TXB2, ET-1, vWF and TM protein increased, and the levels of IL-4, TGF-β, 6-keto-PGF1α and NOS decreased in the 8-day catheterization group and 10-day catheterization group (P ＜ 0.05).

Conclusions Intravenous indwelling needle for more than 8 days can cause the vascular endothelial injury of marginal ear veins in white rabbits.