Verification study on the catheterization of an upper arm vein using the new long peripheral intravenous catheter to reduce catheter failure incidence: A randomized controlled trial.

Abstract

Intravenous infusion using a peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) is often complicated by catheter failure (CF). We hypothesized that catheterization of an upper arm vein instead of a forearm vein may help prevent CF. This study was designed to compare the incidence of CF in patients receiving hyper-stimulant drugs when catheters are placed in the forearm using short PIVCs (SPCs) with that when catheters are placed in the upper arm using the new long PIVCs. Patients admitted to a university hospital in Tokyo, Japan were enrolled in this study and were assigned to the SPC or the new long PIVC group. The primary outcome was the incidence of CF until 7 days. The secondary outcomes were the number of CFs per 1,000 days, the duration of the indwelling catheter, and the presence of thrombi and subcutaneous edema. Forty-seven patients were analyzed (median age, 67.0 years). The incidence of CF was 0% in the new long PIVCs and 32.0% (8 catheters) in the SPCs (p = 0.007), and the number of CF per 1,000 days was 0/1,000 and 81.7/1,000 days, respectively (p = 0.001). A significant difference in the duration of the indwelling catheter until CF occurrence was observed between the two groups (p = 0.004). Thrombi and subcutaneous edema were observed more frequently in the SPC group (p < 0.001). Catheterization of an upper arm vein using the new long PIVC to administer a hyper-stimulant drug might reduce CF compared with catheterization of a forearm vein using SPC.