Ultrasound-guided Intravenous Access Research Articles

The performance and complications of long peripheral venous catheters: A retrospective single-centre study.

Intravenous therapies are essential for hospitalised patients. The rapid dissemination of portable ultrasound machines has eased ultrasound-guided intravenous access and facilitated increased use of long peripheral venous catheters (LPCs). This study aimed to evaluate the clinical performance and complications of LPCs. Retrospective, observational single-site study. Data from all consecutively inserted LPCs during a period of 18 months was evaluated. The primary endpoint was the all-cause incidence rate of catheter removal. Secondary endpoints included specific reasons for the catheter removal and the associations between predefined characteristics of the patients, the infusions and the catheters with catheter failure. During the period, 751 PVCs were inserted in 457 patients. The reasons for catheter removal were recorded in 563 cases. The overall incidence rate of catheter removal was 95.8/1000 catheter days (95% CI 88.4-103.8). The median dwell time was 8 days (IQR 5-14), and the total dwell time was 6136 days. Catheter failure occurred in 283 (50.3%) cases, of which the most common cause was phlebitis (n = 101, 17.9%). In multivariable analyses, the use of the cephalic vein was significantly associated with both all-cause catheter failure (p < .001) and catheter failure due to phlebitis (p < .001). In multivariable analyses, vancomycin infusion was not significantly associated with all-cause catheter failure (HR 1.15 (0.55-2.42), p = .71) or catheter failure due to phlebitis (HR 1.49 (0.49-4.53), p = .49). The overall incidence rate of catheter removal was 95.8/1000 catheter days, and the most common causes of catheter failure were phlebitis, infiltration and unintended catheter removal. The use of the cephalic vein was significantly associated with catheter failure in multivariable analyses. We did not find an association between vancomycin infusion and catheter failure in multivariable analyses.

423 Implementation of Standardized Curriculum for Ultrasound-Guided Intravenous Access for Pediatric Residents

423 Implementation of Standardized Curriculum for Ultrasound-Guided Intravenous Access for Pediatric Residents

Teaching Module on Ultrasound-Guided Venous Access Using a Homemade Gel Model for Fourth-Year Medical Students.

IntroductionEvidence supports an ultrasound-guided approach in patients with difficult vascular access. Prior research on teaching ultrasound-guided intravenous access has included only small groups of first- and second-year medical students.MethodsWe enrolled fourth-year medical students in our teaching module. The module featured a 6-minute prelearning narrated lecture and 5-minute orientation, followed by ultrasound-guided IV placement on homemade gel models. Facilitators were emergency medicine (EM) residents with a prespecified level of procedural ultrasound skills according to EM milestones. Students completed pre- and postmodule surveys. Facilitators completed the Directly Observed Procedural Skills Evaluation. Primary outcomes included global rating, proficiency on six procedural skills, and perceived learning.ResultsOur module was completed by 150 fourth-year medical students (94% of the class); 84% cannulated the vein in one attempt. We used a global rating scale to describe the students' cannulation abilities; 59% were trusted to perform this procedure with direct supervision and coaching, 29% with indirect supervision, and 8% without supervision. There was no association between a student's order of attempting IV access within the group and global rating (p = .41). Students reported increased understanding of indications, antecubital anatomy, sonographic anatomy, and procedural comfort (12%, 29%, 38%, and 65% improvement pre- vs. postmodule, respectively; p < .001).DiscussionOur module enabled more than one-third of fourth-year medical students to achieve an indirect supervision or better level of proficiency in ultrasound-guided IV access, with significant improvements in perceived knowledge. This module may be useful for other educators facilitating the transition to residency.

Continuing Education for the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist: Ultrasound-Guided Peripheral Intravenous Access.

Vascular access is critical in the perioperative arena and is a requirement for most surgical procedures. The goals of this project were to increase knowledge among certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) by providing a focused didactic and simulation course on ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous access and to assess the confidence and comfort levels of performing ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous access before and after the course. A combined didactic and simulation ultrasound-based education course was developed to train CRNAs in ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous access. The training module consisted of a didactic presentation followed by a simulation with fabricated and human models. All participants showed competency during the training course by identifying upper extremity and lower extremity sonographic vascular anatomy on a human model and performing ultrasound-guided intravenous access on fabricated models. Mean correct pretest response was 1.57 (95% confidence interval) compared with 3.53 (95% confidence interval) on the posttest. The findings show improvement in performance of ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous access by CRNAs after a focused ultrasound education session. [J Contin Educ Nurs. 2021;52(10):489-492.].

The Effect of Catheter Length Placed Into the Vein on Peripheral Ultrasound-Guided Catheter Survival Time: A Prospective Observational Study

IntroductionEstablishing and maintaining peripheral intravenous access in patients with no visible or palpable veins can be arduous. Intravenous catheters placed with ultrasound do not survive as long as traditionally placed catheters. This study was performed to determine the relationship between the catheter length placed into the lumen of the vein using ultrasound and catheter survival. MethodsThis was a nonrandomized prospective observational study of admitted patients with difficult intravenous placement in 2017. Subjects had ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous placement in the emergency department or intensive care unit. The main outcome was the time of catheter survival. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Cox regression. ResultsA total of 98 patients with an average age of 63 years were enrolled. The total number of cases examined was 97 (N = 97), of which 29 intravenous catheters were removed for catheter-related problems (events). The mean (SD) survival time for catheters placed using ultrasound was 3,445 minutes (2,414) or 2.39 days. Peripheral catheter survival was not significantly related to the in-vein length of the catheter (X2 = 0.03, P = 0.86) nor was it significantly related to any of the covariates. DiscussionThe survival time of ultrasound-guided intravenous access doubled in the present study from 1674 minutes in a previous 2013 study. The results may have been due to clinician expertise and experience with the peripheral ultrasound-guided method and the use of updated equipment.

Difficult intravenous access as an independent predictor of delayed care and prolonged length of stay in the emergency department.

ObjectivesDifficult intravenous access (DIVA) is common in the emergency department (ED). We investigated the extent to which DIVA is associated with care delay outcomes including time to first laboratory draw, therapies, imaging, and ED disposition.MethodsAn observational retrospective cohort analysis of patients with DIVA treated between 2018 and 2020 at 2 urban academic EDs was performed. DIVA was defined as patients requiring ultrasound‐guided intravenous access placed by physicians or advanced practice providers (APPs) as opposed to landmark‐based intravenous placement by nurses. ED throughput variables and disposition time were compared. We correlated DIVA with time to administration of intravenous pain medications, fluids, imaging contrast, laboratory results, and ED disposition.ResultsA total of 108,256 subjects with 161,122 total encounters were included. DIVA occurred in 4961 (3.1%) of ED visits. Patients with DIVA were more likely to be female (3.5% vs 2.6% for males, odds ratio [OR] 1.34, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.27–1.42), self‐identify as black (OR 1.78, 95% CI: 1.66–1.91), and have higher acuity of illness (P < 0.001). Among pediatric patients, DIVA occurred most often in the first year of life at a rate of 3.25%. In adults, DIVA occurred in 2 age peaks; at 35 years (4.02%), and at 63 years (3.44%). In all workflow metrics, the presence of DIVA was associated with significant delays in median time to completion: 50 minutes for pain medication administration, 36 minutes for intravenous fluid administration, 29 minutes for laboratory results, 57 minutes for intravenous contrast administration, and 87 minutes for discharge orders.ConclusionDIVA was associated with increased time to therapies, diagnostic studies, imaging completion, and ED disposition. A more expeditious approach to achieving intravenous access in patients with predicted DIVA could improve ED throughput and patient care overall.

194 Difficult Intravenous Access in the Emergency Department: Incidence, Implications, and Improved Delays in Care With Nurse-Initiated Ultrasound-Guided Intravenous Access

194 Difficult Intravenous Access in the Emergency Department: Incidence, Implications, and Improved Delays in Care With Nurse-Initiated Ultrasound-Guided Intravenous Access

First-Attempt Success, Longevity, and Complication Rates of Ultrasound-Guided Peripheral Intravenous Catheters in Children.

The aim of this study was to examine the success rates, longevity, and complications of ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous lines (USgPIVs) placed in a pediatric emergency department. The study analyzed 300 USgPIV attempts in an urban tertiary-care pediatric emergency department. Data regarding USgPIV placement were collected from a 1-page form completed by the clinician placing the USgPIV. The time and reason for USgPIV removal were extracted from the medical record for patients with USgPIVs admitted to the hospital. A Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed. This study demonstrated a success rate of 68% and 87% for the first and second attempts with USgPIV. Fifty-five percent of patients had 1 or more prior traditional intravenous access attempt. Most USgPIVs placed on patients admitted to the hospital were removed because they were no longer needed (101/160). We calculated a Kaplan-Meier median survival of 143 hours (6 days; interquartile range, 68-246 hours). The failure rate at 48 hours was 25%. Ultrasound-guided intravenous access is a feasible alternative to traditional peripheral intravenous access in the pediatric emergency setting. We observed a high first-stick success rate even in patients who had failed traditional peripheral intravenous access attempts, few complications, and a long intravenous survival time.

Attitudes towards three ultrasound-guided vascular access techniques in a paediatric emergency department.

although nurses often place peripheral intravenous (IV) catheters, little is known about their perceptions regarding use of ultrasound guidance. the authors aimed to determine paediatric emergency department nurses' attitudes toward ultrasound-guided IV access techniques and assessed practice change after training. In a cross-sectional study of nurses, they had didactic and hands-on practice sessions, using three short-axis ultrasound-guided IV access techniques on gel models. Outcomes included likability and ease of learning and performing the techniques. A 3-month follow-up questionnaire assessed attitudes and behavioural changes. 18 nurses were enrolled and 17 analysed. Participants liked all three techniques and thought they were easy to learn and perform. Eighty-two percent of the nurses used at least one technique clinically. The two-person self-guided technique was most preferred (65%) and used 3 months later (65%). nurses reported generally positive attitudes toward all three ultrasound-guided IV access techniques, but preferred the two-person self-guided technique. Owing to the small sample size, these results cannot be generalised and further research is needed.

Ultrasound probe grip: the afternoon tea technique.

Globally, ultrasound is being used to assist in central venous and difficult peripheral intravenous access in a variety of emergency and non-emergency clinical settings. After reading Flood's paper on safe central venous access and noting the difficulties clinicians find in probe stabilisation whilst performing dynamic intravenous access, we decided to share our teaching technique. The purpose of this correspondence is to highlight the 'afternoon tea technique' as a potential teaching method for probe stabilisation. It is hoped that this technique will improve the image quality in dynamic procedures and increase the success rate of ultrasound-guided intravenous access in clinical practice.