title: Efficacy and ease of use of an intravenous catheter designed to prevent blood leakage: a prospective observational trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Conventional safety intravenous (IV) catheters prevent blood exposure during catheter placement but blood leakage from the unconnected catheter still frequently occurs. In the current study a new safety IV catheter equipped with a blood leakage control septum was assessed under routine clinical conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective observational trial was conducted at the KKRN (Katholisches Klinikum Ruhrgebiet Nord), Germany, September/October 2012. Peripheral IV access was established in presurgical patients using either the investigational ("IS3") or a conventional safety IV catheter ("IS"). Incidence of blood leakage during placement and subsequent (dis-)connection procedures, duration of placement as well as handling conditions were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 200 IV accesses were established (n(IS3) = 102 and n(IS) = 98). Blood leakage during catheter placement (4.9% (IS3) vs. 61.2% (IS); p<0.001) and blood contaminations (3.9% (IS3) vs. 14.3% (IS); p = 0.01) were significantly reduced for IS3. All blood leakages observed with IS3 were due to improper technique. No blood leakage occurred during repeated (dis-)connections of IS3 (blood leakage IS: 74%). Using IS3, vein compression was not required (no compression: 98%) and duration of catheter placement was significantly shorter (t(IS3) = 69.6 ± 22.4 s vs. t(IS) = 85.2 ± 28.2 s; p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The investigational IV catheter effectively prevented blood leakage, thereby reducing contamination risk and workload associated with cleaning. Omission of vein compression facilitated and shortened IV catheter placement.
authors: Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, KKRN (Katholisches Klinikum Ruhrgebiet Nord), Dorsten - Germany.
authors: Gertrud
authors: G
authors: Haeseler
authors: Monika
authors: M
authors: Hildebrand
authors: Joachim
authors: J
authors: Fritscher
mesh_terms: D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D004867:Equipment Design; D005858:Germany; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016272:Occupational Health; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D062666:Vascular Access Devices