Effectiveness of Aloe vera gel and Thrombophob gel in the management of Thrombophlebitis among Patients receiving Intravenous Therapy in Selected hospitals of Aizawl, Mizoram

Abstract

Introduction: Peripheral intravenous (IV) cannulation is one of the most frequently performed invasive procedures in hospitalized patients. Despite its importance in administering medications, fluids, blood products, and nutritional support, it is associated with complications such as thrombophlebitis. Topical pharmacological agents like Thrombophob gel are routinely used for treatment, while Aloe vera gel has emerged as a natural alternative because of its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, analgesic, and wound-healing properties. Title of the study: Effectiveness of Aloe vera gel and Thrombophob gel in the management of Thrombophlebitis among patients receiving intravenous therapy at selected hospitals in Aizawl, Mizoram Objectives: To compare the effectiveness of Aloe vera gel and Thrombophob gel in reducing peripheral intravenous cannula-induced thrombophlebitis among hospitalized patients. Methodology: A quantitative quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test control group design was adopted among 60 patients with peripheral intravenous cannula-induced thrombophlebitis admitted to Civil Hospital, Aizawl. Thirty patients received Aloe vera gel (experimental group), while thirty received Thrombophob gel (control group). Thrombophlebitis severity was assessed using the Visual Infusion Phlebitis (VIP) Scale before and after intervention. Descriptive statistics, Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test, and Mann–Whitney U Test were used for data analysis. Results: Both Aloe vera gel and Thrombophob gel significantly reduced thrombophlebitis scores following treatment. However, Thrombophob gel produced a greater reduction in VIP scores compared with Aloe vera gel, and the difference between the groups was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Aloe vera gel is an effective, inexpensive, safe, and easily available nursing intervention for managing peripheral intravenous cannula-induced thrombophlebitis. It can be considered an alternative or complementary therapy in routine nursing practice.

Introduction

Peripheral intravenous (IV) cannulation is a routine hospital procedure used to administer medications, fluids, blood products, electrolytes, chemotherapy, and parenteral nutrition. Approximately 70–90% of hospitalized patients require peripheral IV therapy. However, one of its most common complications is thrombophlebitis, characterized by pain, redness, warmth, swelling, tenderness, and inflammation of the vein. If untreated, it can lead to cellulitis, bloodstream infection, interruption of IV therapy, prolonged hospitalization, and increased healthcare costs.

Several factors contribute to thrombophlebitis, including prolonged cannula dwell time, inappropriate catheter size, repeated insertion attempts, irritating medications, poor insertion technique, and inadequate monitoring. Conventional management includes cannula removal, warm compresses, limb elevation, analgesics, and topical agents such as Thrombophob gel, which possesses anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, and fibrinolytic properties.

Aloe vera gel has gained attention as an alternative treatment because of its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, analgesic, and wound-healing properties. Rich in bioactive compounds such as acemannan, polysaccharides, flavonoids, vitamins, enzymes, and phenolic compounds, Aloe vera has been shown to reduce pain, erythema, edema, and inflammation with minimal adverse effects. Although both Aloe vera gel and Thrombophob gel have demonstrated effectiveness individually, direct comparative evidence is limited. Therefore, this study aimed to compare their effectiveness in managing peripheral IV cannula-induced thrombophlebitis among hospitalized patients.

Objectives

1. Assess the pre-test level of thrombophlebitis among patients receiving Aloe vera gel and Thrombophob gel.
2. Evaluate the effectiveness of Aloe vera gel in reducing thrombophlebitis.
3. Evaluate the effectiveness of Thrombophob gel in reducing thrombophlebitis.
4. Compare post-test thrombophlebitis scores between the two treatment groups.

Review of Literature

• Lide et al. (2022): Reported a 37.01% prevalence of IV cannula-induced phlebitis, identifying chronic illness, poor dressing, prolonged cannula duration, and age as significant predictors.
• Thapa & Jaimini (2025): Found Aloe vera gel significantly reduced pain, redness, inflammation, and VIP scores compared with routine nursing care.
• Khan et al. (2024): Demonstrated that topical heparin-based treatment effectively reduced pain, inflammation, and thrombophlebitis compared with routine care.
• Nisha M. (2026): Reported Aloe vera gel to be more effective than Thrombophob gel in reducing IV phlebitis, suggesting it as a cost-effective nursing intervention.

Research Methodology

A quantitative, quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test control group design was adopted. The study was conducted at Civil Hospital, Aizawl, Mizoram, among 60 hospitalized adult patients with peripheral IV cannula-induced thrombophlebitis selected through non-probability purposive sampling. Participants were divided equally into:

• Experimental group (n = 30): Received topical Aloe vera gel.
• Control group (n = 30): Received topical Thrombophob gel.

The independent variable was the topical application of Aloe vera gel or Thrombophob gel, while the dependent variable was thrombophlebitis severity measured using the Visual Infusion Phlebitis (VIP) Scale. Demographic and clinical variables included age, gender, education, occupation, diagnosis, cannulation site, cannula size, duration of cannulation, IV fluid type, and previous IV cannulation history.

The research tool consisted of:

• Section A: Demographic and clinical data.
• Section B: VIP Scale for assessing thrombophlebitis severity.

The tool was validated by experts, and reliability was confirmed during the pilot study. Ethical approval, administrative permission, and informed consent were obtained, with confidentiality and participant rights ensured.

Pilot Study

A pilot study involving 10 patients (5 experimental and 5 control) was conducted at Mizoram State Cancer Institute. The findings confirmed the feasibility of the study design, intervention protocol, sampling method, and data collection tool.

Main Study

Sixty eligible patients participated in the main study. Fresh Aloe vera gel (2–3 mL) was applied to the affected IV site twice daily for three consecutive days, while the control group received an equal amount of Thrombophob gel with the same frequency. Thrombophlebitis severity was assessed before and after treatment using the VIP Scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test, and the Mann–Whitney U Test, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant.

Conclusion

Conclusion

Both Aloe vera gel and Thrombophob gel were effective in reducing peripheral intravenous cannula-induced thrombophlebitis. However, Thrombophob gel demonstrated greater effectiveness in reducing thrombophlebitis severity compared with Aloe vera gel Thrombophob gel. Considering its low cost, easy availability, and minimal adverse effects, Aloe vera gel may be recommended as an effective nursing intervention for the management of thrombophlebitis among hospitalized patients. Further multicentre studies with larger sample sizes are recommended to strengthen the evidence.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2026 Osuna Tayeng, Mrs Lily Lalhlutmawii , Ms. Lalrinhlui . This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.