Study OverviewFirst-pass peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) failure can be as high as 40%, and finding/aligning with the vein is often the hardest part—especially for less experienced inserters. This benchtop study tested a novel ultrasound-based prototype that shows a coronal “pathway” view (a visual track of the vessel path) and compared it to standard point localisation (a single ultrasound frame) in untrained users using tissue and vessel-mimicking phantoms.Fourteen untrained inv...

Study OverviewPeripheral intravenous catheters (PIVCs) are used in most hospitalised patients, but complications and infections can be preventable when care is consistent. This quality improvement initiative rolled out an evidence-based PIVC bundle across 38 private hospitals in Australia (2022–2023), aligned to the Australian Clinical Care Standard (2021).The bundle wasn’t just “education”—it was a full system package: a service-wide PIVC policy, redesigned nursing documentation, t...

Study OverviewPeripheral intravenous catheters (PIVCs) are used every day—but PIVC care in Australia is still often inconsistent and can cause avoidable harm. This priority-setting study brought together clinicians with infection prevention and control (IPC) expertise to identify the most important national priorities for improving PIVC care, plus practical actions that could actually move the needle.A total of 65 multidisciplinary clinicians participated, and the study distilled their inpu...

Study OverviewSkin antisepsis before inserting intravascular catheters is one of the biggest “make-or-break” steps for preventing catheter-related infections. This systematic review and network meta-analysis compared chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) and povidone-iodine (PVI) across different concentrations and formulations (aqueous vs alcohol-based, and alcohol type).The review included 16 randomised trials, covering 7,803 patients and 11,985 catheters, and looked at three key infection outc...

Study OverviewIntramuscular (IM) injections are one of the most common—and most feared—procedures in childhood. This systematic review and meta-analysis examined whether Buzzy® (a small device that combines cold + vibration) reduces pain, and also helps with fear and anxiety, for children (0–18 years) receiving IM injections.Researchers reviewed randomised trials published between 2015 and 2024 and pooled results using meta-analysis methods.Key Findings- Pain reduction was consistent a...

Study OverviewCentral venous access devices (CVADs) are essential in paediatric care, but complications—both infectious and non-infectious—can trigger major downstream impacts: longer stays, extra treatment, device replacement, and more procedures. This systematic review pulled together published evidence on the average cost of CVAD-associated complications in children and explored why cost estimates vary so widely.The authors searched studies published January 2012 to January 2025 and in...

Selecting the appropriate vascular access device is crucial for effective patient care and treatment outcomes…Continue Reading:  https://www.icumed.com/about-us/clinical-connections/vascular-access/paths-to-precision-device-decisions/ *. ICU Medical has provided grant funding to AVATAR...

Study OverviewMany hospitals still replace peripheral venous catheters (PVCs / IV cannulas) routinely every 72–96 hours. Another approach is clinically indicated removal—leaving the cannula in place unless there’s a reason to remove it (e.g., therapy finished, pain, leaking, blockage, suspected infection). This 2026 Cochrane review pooled evidence from 14 randomised trials including 11,428 participants to compare these approaches.Key FindingsSerious infections were rare and similar acros...

Study OverviewPeripheral IV catheter (PIVC) insertion in neonates can be difficult, often requiring multiple attempts that cause stress for babies, families, and clinicians. This pre–post implementation study tested a practical workflow change: a brief near-infrared (NIR) “huddle” before cannulation. During the huddle, staff used NIR vein visualisation to plan the best insertion site(s), align on an approach, and set expectations before the attempt.The project ran across three phases: b...

Study OverviewPeripheral IV cannulation is common—but repeat attempts are painful, time-consuming, and can increase complication risk. This systematic review and meta-analysis asked a simple question: Do infrared (IR) vein-visualisation devices improve PIVC insertion outcomes in adults compared with standard palpation/landmark technique?The authors pooled 5 randomised controlled trials, covering 690 adults and 704 PIVC insertions (including 289 insertions in patients meeting DIVA criteria).K...