Randomized controlled trial of vascular access in newborns in the neonatal intensive care unit.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the effectiveness of two methods of vascular access in newborns.


METHODS
Randomized controlled trial.


METHODS
Neonatal intensive care unit in Regional Hospital of Valdivia, Chile.


METHODS
Seventy-four high-risk newborns.


METHODS
Peripherally inserted central catheter and peripheral intravenous catheter.


METHODS
Length of neonatal intensive care unit stay and incidence of sepsis and phlebitis. RESULTS/DATA ANALYSIS: There were no statistically significant differences in the length of the neonatal intensive care unit stay and in the incidence of sepsis between groups. There was a significant higher incidence of phlebitis in the peripheral intravenous catheter group.


CONCLUSIONS
Although there was not a significant effect of the kind of catheter on length of neonatal intensive care unit stay, the peripherally inserted central catheter is recommended because of the decreased risk of phlebitis and the decreased number of venipuncture attempts and catheters needed to complete intravenous therapy.
Barría
R Mauricio
RM
Instituto de Enfermería, Facultad de Medicina at the Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile. rbarria@uach.cl
Lorca
Pedro
P
Muñoz
Sergio
S
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001724:Birth Weight; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D015400:Clinical Nursing Research; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017053:Infection Control; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D018579:Patient Selection; D010689:Phlebitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D018805:Sepsis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D013997:Time Factors