Adequacy of the Type of Venous Catheter to the Drug Type and Duration of Treatment: A Cross-Sectional Study

TL;DR

This study finds that most venous catheters used in hospitalized patients are not suitable for the type of drug or treatment duration.

Contribution

The study identifies a high frequency of inadequate catheter use in acute care units, particularly for high-risk drugs or prolonged treatments.

Findings

246 out of 297 catheters (82.8%) were found to be inadequate.

Inadequate catheters were mainly due to using peripheral catheters for high-risk drugs or prolonged treatments.

The study highlights a significant issue in catheter selection in clinical practice.

Abstract

Background: Venous catheters are standard devices in clinical practice. However, their use is not exempt from possible errors and complications. In addition, using them effectively is key to avoiding complications such as infection or phlebitis. Objectives: To determine the frequency of appropriate venous catheters chosen based on the drug and treatment duration in hospitalized patients in a region with 154,000 inhabitants. Methods: A cross-sectional design was carried out between 14 and 28 February 2020, in patients with a peripheral or central intravenous catheter admitted to the acute care unit. Variables collected were related to the catheters, patients, and nurses. Results: One hundred and eighty-eight patients were included, with 319 catheters inserted by 68 nurses. Seventeen patients (8.8%) were ruled out due to the lack of data on the medication administered. Finally, data from 171 patients were included in the final analysis, with 297 catheters inserted. Of them, 246 catheters (82.8%) were inadequate. Discussion: In this point-prevalence study, catheter inadequacy affected more than four out of five catheters and was mainly linked to the use of peripheral catheters for high-risk IV medications and/or for treatments extending 7 days or more. Conclusion: The selection of venous catheters in acute care units is not usually adequate since many peripheral catheters are placed in patients who require intravenous medication during a prolonged period or who are receiving risk medication.

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