title: Effects of a new device to guide venous puncture in elderly critically ill patients: results of a pilot randomized study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Novel devices based on the emission of near-infrared electromagnetic radiation (NIR) have been developed to minimize venous puncture failures. These instruments produce an "augmented reality" image, in which subcutaneous veins are depicted on a LCD display. We compared the new technique with standard venipuncture in a population of elderly patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients admitted in Intensive Care Unit were randomized to standard or to NIR assisted procedure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the 103 enrolled patients (age 74 ± 12 years; standard venipuncture-N = 56; NIR-N = 47), no differences were found in procedure length, number of attempts, and referred pain. With NIR there was a lower incidence of hematomas and fewer anxiety and depressive symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of the novel NIR-based device is safer and more psychologically tolerable, and it is not associated to an increase of procedure length or number of attempts.
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Unit, Geriatric Cardiology and Medicine Division, Experimental and Clinical Medicine Department, University of Florence and AOU Careggi, Florence, Italy. fumadue@tin.it.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fumagalli
authors.affiliation: InSono SrL, Calenzano, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Gionatan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Torricelli
authors.affiliation: InSono SrL, Calenzano, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Massi
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Unit, Geriatric Cardiology and Medicine Division, Experimental and Clinical Medicine Department, University of Florence and AOU Careggi, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Calvani
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Unit, Geriatric Cardiology and Medicine Division, Experimental and Clinical Medicine Department, University of Florence and AOU Careggi, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boni
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Unit, Geriatric Cardiology and Medicine Division, Experimental and Clinical Medicine Department, University of Florence and AOU Careggi, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Unit, Geriatric Cardiology and Medicine Division, Experimental and Clinical Medicine Department, University of Florence and AOU Careggi, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Accarigi
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manetti
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Unit, Geriatric Cardiology and Medicine Division, Experimental and Clinical Medicine Department, University of Florence and AOU Careggi, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Niccolò
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Marchionni
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D057186:Comparative Effectiveness Research; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D004867:Equipment Design; D004869:Equipment Safety; D005260:Female; D006406:Hematoma / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007259:Infrared Rays / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008422:Materials Testing; D018962:Phlebotomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D010865:Pilot Projects
keywords: Elderly; Hematoma; Intensive care unit; Near-infrared electromagnetic radiation; Nursing; Venous puncture