title: Venous International Assessment, VIA scale, validated classification procedure for the peripheral venous system.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  VIA scale is a dynamic performance status tool of the peripheral venous system that is divided into five different grades, composed of three parameters: number of observable puncture points; optimal catheter size for cannulation and ease of performing venipuncture and risk of extravasation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective single-center, observational, open, non-randomized study divided into two phases. In the first longitudinal phase, we studied the clinical characteristics and the changes in their peripheral venous systems during intravenous chemotherapy for 16 patients (n=16) for an average period of 24 months. In the second transverse phase, we measured the vein's diameter at the selected puncture points with a high-resolution ultrasound and paired this figure with VIA scale. We selected a group of oncology patients (n=52) and a control group (n=56).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the first phase, the level of agreement between the three reviewers was excellent. The second step was to assess the relationship between the measurements obtained with ultrasound and the VIA scale. The vein diameter measurements show a decrease directly related to the assessment of observers in the VIA scale.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The VIA scale is a simple, easy and practical method for classification of the peripheral venous system in terms of vascular access. The practical application of our VIA scale significantly increases the quality of life of patients by increasing the chances of successful venipuncture and cannulation and thus reducing the risk of extravasation and material costs, allowing both an economical and a safe venous assessment tool.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid - Spain.
authors.forename: Julio-César
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: de la Torre-Montero
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montealegre-Sanz
authors.forename: Araceli
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Faraldo-Cabana
authors.forename: Belén
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Oliva-Pellicer
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: García-Real
authors.forename: Molly
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fenwick
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marcos Cáceres
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rivas-Eguía
authors.forename: Concepción
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vila-Borrajo
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Valles-Andrés
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Alonso-Gordoa
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: García-Carrión
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Diaz-Rubio García
authors.forename: Juan-Vicente
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Beneit-Montesinos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018962:Phlebotomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain; D013997:Time Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography; D062666:Vascular Access Devices; D014680:Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents