[Incidence of adverse events associated to the use of short peripheral venous catheters].
BACKGROUND
Surveillance of adverse events associated to the use of short peripheral venous catheters (SPVC) is an indicator of quality of service. The objective was to report the incidence and risk factors associated to adverse events in SPVC.


METHODS
Prospective cohort study. All patients with a SPVC for more than 48 hours were included. The outcome variables were dysfunction, chemical phlebitis and bacterial phlebitis. The data registered were age, sex, underlying diseases, nutritional status, site of placement, skin condition, administered intravenous fluids, and catheter dressing. Regarding statistical analysis, incidence rate for each adverse event was calculated per 100 catheters and per 1000 catheter-days. Univariate and multivariate analysis of risk factors were performed.


RESULTS
410 catheters were analyzed. Median of SPVC use was of three days. There was no evidence of infectious complications: 47 (11.4 %) presented chemical phlebitis and 231 (56.3 %) mechanical malfunction; the incidence rate was 35.6 and 175 per 1000 catheter-days, respectively. In the multivariate analysis, the risk factors associated to chemical phlebitis were skin lesions (p = 0.001, RR 3.479), and additional dressing use (p = 0.007, RR 4.025); for mechanical malfunction the only risk factor was the administration of intravenous chemotherapy (p = 0.026, RR 4.293).


CONCLUSIONS
The malfunction incidence rate was high; in consequence, the catheter was removed before 96 hours of use. This could explain the absence of infectious complications.
Servicio de Infectología , Hospital de Pediatría, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Distrito Federal, México. guadalumiranda@terra.com.mx.
Miguel Armando
MA
Buenfil-Vargas
Guadalupe Judith
GJ
Espinosa-Vital
Roberta
R
Rodriguez-Sing
María Guadalupe
MG
Miranda-Novales
D000293:Adolescent; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004868:Equipment Failure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010689:Phlebitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D062666:Vascular Access Devices / Q000009:adverse effects*
Adverse effects; Catheters; Phlebitis