title: Near-infrared light device can improve intravenous cannulation in critically ill children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vascular access in critically ill children can be a real challenge for medical staff.
  
  
  METHODS
  To evaluate the effectiveness of a near-infrared light vein-viewing device for critically ill children, 60 pediatric inpatients were enrolled in a randomized prospective observation trial for intravenous cannulation. The patients' demographic data, mean time required to find the first available vessel, first-attempt success rate, mean number of attempts per patient, and the total time taken on the attempts per patient were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Less time was required to find the first available vessel in the near-infrared light device group compared with the control group (126.37 vs. 383.61 seconds; p = 0.027). In addition, the near-infrared light device group had a fewer number of attempts compared with the control group (median 1 vs. 2; p = 0.004), and also a shorter total time of attempts per patient compared with the control group (186.16 vs. 497.23 seconds; p = 0.014).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of a near-infrared light vein-viewing device for vascular access in critically ill children can decrease the total medical time and cost.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ching-Yun
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Kuan-Chiao
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: I-Hsiu
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chin-Ling
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Hsiao-Ping
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Yi-Yu
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Ya-Fen
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Hong-Ren
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016638:Critical Illness; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007259:Infrared Rays; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D062666:Vascular Access Devices