References
A safe and effective winged peripheral intravenous cannula for use in clinical practice
Abstract
Vascular access continues to be a key factor for the reliable and safe delivery of intravenous (IV) therapy to patients in any healthcare setting. Clinical guidelines advocate for the right vascular access device selection, in order to reduce avoidable complications, eg multiple stabs, phlebitis, thrombophlebitis, insertion site infection, and blood stream infection, while improving efficiency and reducing costs. Peripheral intravenous catheters or cannulas (PIVCs) remain widely used for gaining vascular access in all clinical settings, with both adults and children, because they provide a relatively cheap and simple way to provide blood sampling and the prompt administration of IV medications. Although safe and easy to insert, PIVCs present with associated risks that can be costly to the organisation. The case studies included with this article introduce Nipro's Safetouch Cath Winged with Injection Port as a new cost-effective choice of PIVC, which is now available from NHS Supply Chain.
Many patients admitted to hospital or receiving care in other settings, including home care, will receive intravenous (IV) therapy at some point (NHS Scotland, 2002; Royal College of Nursing (RCN), 2016; National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), 2017). These patients will require the insertion of a peripheral intravenous catheter or cannula (PIVC), or a central venous access device (CVAD) to facilitate the delivery of treatment.
An audit of 14 hospitals across 13 countries prompted Alexandrou et al (2015) to estimate that in 2015, globally, there were over 1 billion PIVC insertions. A subsequent international study by Alexandrou et al (2018) estimated that the majority of hospitalised patients worldwide would have at least one PIVC in place. In the case of the UK, Zhang et al (2016) determined that 1 in 3 patients would have at least one PIVC in situ. The NHS spends an estimated £29 million of its annual acute sector budget on PIVC procurement, with at least 25 million devices sold annually in the UK (NHS Clinical Evaluation Team, 2018; Stanley et al, 2020).
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