AVATAR educational video on PIVC insertion, maintenance and removal

Peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVCs) are the most commonly used vascular access device in health care with around 65% of hospitalized patients receiving PIVC therapy during their stay. The insertion of a PIVC is the most commonly performed invasive procedure in hospitalized patients. However, failure rates of PIVCs are high at around 40% before the completion of treatment this impacts significantly on patients, staff and the healthcare system. Failure can be a consequence of occlusion, dislodgement, infiltration/extravasation, phlebitis, or local/systemic infection. Prevention of these failures through evidence based practice is important, and as such AVATAR has developed, with an unrestricted grant from Baxter, this educational video on PIVC insertion, maintenance and removal that incorporates best practices based on current evidence. Reducing the complications and failure will provide patients with a better health care experience.