title: Visualizing veins with near-infrared light to facilitate blood withdrawal in children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aims to evaluate for the first time the value of visualizing veins by a prototype of a near-infrared (NIR) vascular imaging system for venipuncture in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  An observational feasibility study of venipunctures in children (0-6 years) attending the clinical laboratory of a pediatric university hospital during a period of 2 months without (n = 80) and subsequently during a period of 1 month with a prototype of an NIR vascular imaging system (n = 45) was conducted. Failure rate (ie, more than 1 puncture) and time of needle manipulation were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With the NIR vascular imaging system, failure rate decreased from 10/80 to 1/45 (P = .05) and time decreased from 2 seconds (1-10) to 1 second (1-4, P = .07).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed promising results on the value of an NIR vascular imaging system in facilitating venipunctures.
authors.affiliation: University Medical Center, Utrecht, Netherlands. n.j.cuper@umcutrecht.nl
authors.forename: Natascha J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Cuper
authors.forename: Rudolf M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Verdaasdonk
authors.forename: Rowland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Roode
authors.forename: Karen M K
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: de Vooght
authors.forename: Max A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Viergever
authors.forename: Cor J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Kalkman
authors.forename: Jurgen C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: de Graaff
mesh_terms: D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007259:Infrared Rays; D008297:Male; D019370:Observation; D014680:Veins