title: Factors affecting the life span of peripheral intravenous lines in hospitalized infants.
abstract: A study was undertaken to identify the effect of insertion site, cannula size and brand type, blood, and unit setting on the life span of IVs in hospitalized infants. A comparative descriptive design was used to study 250 data sets gathered from charts of infants 12 months of age and under, in the NICU, PICU, and general pediatric units at a children's medical center in the Southwest. Analysis revealed no significant difference in life span of nonelectively discontinued IVs by insertion site, cannula size, or brand type. A statistical difference was found in the life span of IVs regarding blood infusion: IVs in which blood had infused lasted longer than those without blood products. A statistical difference in IV life span was also found between the unit settings, with a longer life span for IVs on the general pediatric units than for those on the NICU. Research-based knowledge about factors that influence the life span of IVs in infants could be helpful in making practice decisions and in parent teaching.
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wilkinson-Faulk
mesh_terms: D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000451:nursing*; D015400:Clinical Nursing Research; D006757:Hospital Units; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D013997:Time Factors