Catheterization, Peripheral

Obtaining intravenous (IV) access is one of the most common procedures performed in the emergency department (ED). IV access is necessary for many aspects of patient care, including blood tests, administration of medications and intravenous fluids, and diagnostic imaging. However, some patients have difficult intravenous access (DIVA), making it challenging to successfully place an IV catheter. Difficulty obtaining IV access can lead to delays in diagnosis and treatment, prolonged emergency department stays, multiple needle punctures, and increased patient discomfort. Several specialized IV devices are available for patients with DIVA. Two commonly used ultrasound-guided devices are long peripheral intravenous catheters and single-lumen midline catheters. Both devices are inserted into veins using ultrasound guidance, but they differ in catheter length and expected duration of use. Long peripheral IV catheters are commonly used in emergency departments but may fail relatively quickly. Midline catheters may remain functional for longer periods and may reduce the need for additional IV insertions during a patient's hospital stay. However, these devices have traditionally been inserted by specialized clinicians, such as members of vascular access teams, rather than by bedside emergency department nurses, who perform most vascular access procedures in many emergency departments. The purpose of this study is to compare ultrasound-guided single-lumen midline catheters with ultrasound-guided long peripheral IV catheters when both procedures are performed by specially trained bedside emergency department nurses. The study will evaluate whether midline catheters can be inserted as successfully and as safely as long peripheral IV catheters in adult emergency department patients with difficult intravenous access. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either an ultrasound-guided single-lumen midline catheter or an ultrasound-guided long peripheral IV catheter. Researchers will compare the two devices by measuring procedural success, catheter-related complications, catheter dwell time, completion of care using the original device, and patient satisfaction. The results of this study may help determine whether bedside emergency department nurses with training and experience in ultrasound-guided vascular access can successfully use single-lumen midline catheters in routine clinical practice. The study will also evaluate which vascular access device provides the best balance of safety, reliability, and patient experience for emergency department patients with difficult intravenous access. This information may help guide future recommendations for vascular access device selection in the emergency department.

Congenital syphilis in newborns requires intravenous antibiotic therapy, making reliable peripheral venous access essential. However, high rates of catheter failure and repeated punctures remain a significant clinical challenge. This randomized, controlled, parallel clinical trial aims to compare ultrasound-guided long peripheral intravenous catheters inserted by a specialized vascular access team with conventional short peripheral catheters inserted by neonatal nurses. A total of 104 newborns with congenital syphilis receiving intravenous penicillin will be randomly assigned to either group. The primary outcome is functional dwell time. Secondary outcomes include catheter failure, number of insertion attempts, first-attempt success, complications, and total number of devices required. The study hypothesizes that ultrasound-guided long peripheral catheters will improve vascular access outcomes, reduce complications, and minimize the need for repeated punctures.

The study focuses on patients who require outpatient infusion of therapy ("Infusions, Intravenous"\[Mesh\]) "Administration, Intravenous"\[Mesh\] ("Home Infusion Therapy"\[Mesh\]) "Parenteral Nutrition, Home"\[Mesh\] via a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) ("Central Venous Catheters"\[MeSH\] "Catheterization, Central Venous"\[MeSH\] "Catheterization, Peripheral" \[MeSH\] "Vascular Access Devices"\[Mesh\] )