Jahani Simin,Nursing and Midwifery faculty,Iran-Ahwaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences.

Introduction: Beacause dehydrations is a common cause of Hospital admissions and a frequent complication of febrile conditions in older people, hypodermoclysis offers a simple therapy with many potential benefits. Though it is increasingly used, important data concerning safety, adverse effects of this method are still missing. The aim of this study was to compare the adverse effects of subcutaneous and intraveneous Infusions in geriatric patients.

Materials and Methode: The study was designed as a prospective, randomized, clinical trial. Eigthy patients aged 65 and older with diagnosis of stroke were randomly allocated to receive SC 0r IV infusions of half – normal saline. In SC infusion, the site of needle insertion was chosen the outer aspect of the upper arm. A check list was used to document the observed adverse effects, and to determine the pain's severity was used of visuad analog scale (VAS).

Results: Some patients experienced local side effects (SC, n = 18 vs IV, n = 16). Major local side effects occurred in three SC (larg edema, Hematoma) and three Iv (phlebitis, Hematoma) patients. The current side effects in SC group was local edema (% 45), and phlebitis (% 38) in IV group. Both methods of rehyration had not significant difference in the local side effects (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: This study demonstrated that rehydration by hypodermoclysis is, in general, accepted by geriatric patients equally as well as Iv therapy. Additionally, in confused patients and in those in whom IV punctures are difficult to achieve, it represents an alternatively effective method of infusion. Both techniques are comparably safe and effective.

Keywords: Hypodermoclysis, Subcutaneous infusion, Intraveneous infusion, side effects.