Phlebitis due to 0.9% sodium chloride injection as solvent of amiodarone hydrochloride injection

A 59-year-old male patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus needed to receive continuous intravenous pump infusion of amiodarone hydrochloride injection for atrial fibrillation. Considering the higher blood sugar levels of the patient, the clinician used 0.9% sodium chloride injection as the solvent and gave the infusion at the speed of 1 mg amiodarone hydrochloride injection per min via his left arm. About 1 hour later, the patient developed red and swollen on the skin around the venous access of his left arm with increased skin temperature and obvious pain. He was diagnosed as phlebitis, which was considered to be relevant with 0.9% sodium chloride injection. The solvent was changed to 5% glucose injection immediately and the infusion was given via the right arm. At the same time, the cold compress treatment was given on phlebitis area. One hour later, the skin temperature returned to normal and the symptoms of swollen and pain disappeared. Key words: Amiodarone; Sodium chloride; Glucose; Phlebitis