Drug Extravasation in a Tertiary Referral Children Hospital: A Prospective Cohort Study

Extravasation injuries are prevalent in pediatric hospitals and often result in tissue damage and extended hospital stays. However, limited data exist regarding risk factors for extravasation in children. This study aimed to identify these risk factors in pediatric patients receiving intravenous (IV) therapy. This prospective cohort study included 500 children aged 1 month to 18 years who had undergone either central or peripheral catheterization and were admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) at Imam Hossein Children’s Hospital in Isfahan, Iran, between July 2020 and July 2021. Data were collected on age, gender, length of hospitalization, catheter type, instances of extravasation, drugs administered, and treatment protocols. The median age was 36 months, and approximately 56% of participants were male. Among the cohort, the prevalence of extravasation was 9.8% (49 patients). Female gender ( P = .002), central venous catheterization ( P = .002), prolonged hospitalization (P < .001), reduced consciousness ( P = .012), and the use of taping for vein fixation ( P = .004) were all significantly associated with a higher risk of extravasation. This study underscores the need for health care providers to carefully assess risk factors for extravasation to mitigate injury risk, particularly in vulnerable pediatric populations.