Journal Article

Short versus long peripheral intravenous catheters in neonates: a retrospective cohort study

Francia, Airene L. V., van der Lee, Robin, van Rens, Matheus F. P. T., Bayoumi, Mohammad A. A., Hugill, Kevin, van Loon, Fredericus H. J., Piersigilli, Fiammetta

2025

Overview

Neonatal-short peripheral intravenous catheters (n-SPCs) and neonatal-long peripheral intravenous catheters (n-LPCs) are widely used for short-term vascular access in neonates. A retrospective single-centred cohort study was conducted in the neonatal intensive care unit between 2019 and 2022 to compare the 2 types of catheters. A total of 34,464 catheter insertions were analysed (32,885 n-SPCs, 1,579 n-LPCs). n-LPCs had longer dwell time (48:27 ± 39:08 h versus 34:01 ± 33:31 h, p  < 0.001). Accidental removals were lower in n-LPCs (0.3% versus 2.6%, p  < 0.001). n-LPCs had higher rates of phlebitis (16.1% versus 6.6%, p  < 0.001) and peripheral intravenous infiltration or extravasation (PIVIE) rate (40.0% versus 29.9%). Severe PIVIE (≥ 30% severity) was higher in n-LPCs (8.5% versus 2.8%, p  < 0.001). n-LPCs offer a more stable and effective option for peripheral vascular access in neonates. Their use should be balanced with strategies to reduce the risk of phlebitis and severe PIVIE.

• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group UK,Nature Publishing Group,Nature Portfolio
• Subject: 692/700/1720/3186 / 692/700/1720/3187 / Birth weight / Catheterization, Peripheral - adverse effects / Catheterization, Peripheral - instrumentation / Catheterization, Peripheral - methods / Catheters / Cohort analysis / Complications / Data collection / Electronic health records / Extravasation / Female / Hospitals / Humanities and Social Sciences / Humans / Infant, Newborn / Infiltration / Intensive care / Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Intravenous administration / Intravenous therapy / Male / Medical instruments / Midwifery education / multidisciplinary / Neonatal care / Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) / Neonate / Neonates / Phlebitis / Phlebitis - epidemiology / Phlebitis - etiology / Research centers / Retrospective Studies / Risk reduction / Science / Science (multidisciplinary) / Vascular access / Veins & arteries / Venous access