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. 2023 Jan 4:9:1039232.
doi: 10.3389/fmed.2022.1039232. eCollection 2022.

Peripheral vascular catheter use in Latin America (the vascular study): A multinational cross-sectional study

Rachel M Walker  1   2   3 , Maria Paula Oliveira Pires  2   4 , Gillian Ray-Barruel  1   2   5   6 , Marie Cooke  1 , Gabor Mihala  7 , Silvia Schoenau Azevedo  4 , Maria Angelica Sorgini Peterlini  4 , Marcelle Di Angelis Ambar Felipe  4 , Cirlia Petrona Álvarez  8 , Marcela Quintanilla  9 , Martha Claudia Corzo  10 , Gabriela Cortez Villareal  11 , Eliazib Nataren Cigarroa  12 , Mavilde L G Pedreira  2   4   13 , Claire M Rickard  1   2   5   6
Affiliations

Peripheral vascular catheter use in Latin America (the vascular study): A multinational cross-sectional study

Rachel M Walker et al. Front Med (Lausanne). .

Abstract

Background: Peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) insertion is one of the most common clinical procedures worldwide, yet little data are available from Latin America. Our aim was to describe processes and practices regarding PIVC use in hospitalized patients related to hospital guidelines, characteristics of PIVC inserters, prevalence of PIVC complications, and idle PIVCs.

Methods: In 2019 we conducted a multinational, cross-sectional study of adult and pediatric patients with a PIVC in hospitals from five Latin American countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico. We used two data collection tools to collect hospital guidelines and patient-specific data on the day of the study. The vessel health and preservation (VHP) model guided synthesis of the study aims/questions and suggested opportunities for improvement.

Results: A total of 9,620 PIVCs in adult (86%) and pediatric inpatients in 132 hospitals were assessed. Routine replacement 8-72 hourly was recommended for adults in 22% of hospitals, rather than evidence-based clinical assessment-based durations, and 69% of hospitals allowed the use of non-sterile tape rather than the international standard of a sterile dressing. The majority (52%) of PIVCs were inserted by registered nurses (RNs), followed by nursing assistants/technicians (41%). Eight percent of PIVCs had pain, hyperemia, or edema, 6% had blood in the extension tubing/connector, and 3% had dried blood around the device. Most PIVCs had been inserted for intravenous medications (81%) or fluids (59%) in the previous 24 h, but 9% were redundant.

Conclusion: Given the variation in policies, processes and practices across countries and participating hospitals, clinical guidelines should be available in languages other than English to support clinician skills and knowledge to improve PIVC safety and quality. Existing and successful vascular access societies should be encouraged to expand their reach and encourage other countries to join in multinational communities of practice.

Keywords: cross-sectional study; intravenous infusion; multinational perspectives; prevalence study; vascular access device; vascular catheter.

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Conflict of interest statement

RW received research grant funding for this project and another investigator-initiated research grant provided to Griffith University by vascular access product manufacturer Becton Dickinson and Company. However, they had no role in study design, data collection or analysis, or in the decision to publish or preparation of manuscript. GR-B reports speaker fees and consultancy payments provided to Griffith University by product manufacturers (3M, Becton Dickinson) and education providers (Ausmed, Wolters Kluwer), unrelated to this project. MC’s employer (Griffith University) has received on her behalf: Research grant funding and consultancy payments from Becton Dickinson. EC was an opinion leader for 3M Mexico and Teleflex, Arrow Mexico y Latin America. MPt was a Researcher Level 1C from the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development CNPq-Brazil and receives a continuous research allowance. CR’s employers (Griffith University and The University of Queensland) have received on her behalf: research grant funding from BD-Bard, Cardinal Health and Eloquest, and consultancy payments from BD-Bard and 3M. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Vessel health and preservation (VHP) model (21). Used with permission.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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