Effect of peripheral intravenous catheter type and material on therapy failure in a neonatal population

Background: In neonatal settings vascular access devices are essential for treatment. However, their use is not without risks. The design and materials of peripheral vascular access devices have been evaluated amongst adult populations, but contemporary studies in neonatal settings are scant. Purpose/outcome measures: This research describes the prevalence of peripheral intravenous catheter failure related to three different catheter types with the intent to identify modifiable risks that might be used to evaluate device efficacy, innovate neonatal practice, and support future policy developments. Method and setting: This was a retrospective observational analysis of routinely collected anonymized intravenous therapy related data. The study was carried out at the tertiary neonatal intensive care unit (112 beds) of the Women’s Wellness and Research Center of Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar. Participants: Neonates who were admitted to the unit requiring intravenous treatment wherefore peripheral intravenous cannulation was indicated, were included in this study. Results: The use of different type of catheters resulted in significantly less therapy failures as phlebitis and increased dwell time, compared with the control groups. This remains significant after adjusting for age at insertion, gestational age, birth weight, and catheter type. Conclusions: The study’s findings are in accord with international literature concerning adult and pediatric patients concerning the superiority of PUR over PTFE catheters with respect to the risk of phlebitis and longer dwell times. However, the risk of failure of therapy did not differ between catheters. This finding is reassuring and supports practitioner judgment when selecting peripheral catheter devices.