Complication and Dwell Time of Neonatal Peripheral Venous Catheters with and without Splint: A Descriptive, Correlational, and Prospective Study

Abstract

Background: The main challenge of using Peripheral Intravenous Catheters (PICs) for neonates is their short dwell time, which requires frequent catheterization. Interventions have been made to increase the length of time intravenous catheters stay in neonates, such as the use of splints. Therefore, this study was conducted with the aim of determining the complications and dwell time of PICs with and without splints in infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit. Materials and Methods: This descriptive, correlational, and prospective study included all eligible neonates based on the inclusion criteria in Mahdieh Hospital, Tehran (2024), who were divided into two groups with and without splints. The sampling method was census and for 3 months, the assessment of intravenous catheters of newborns was checked three times a day, and all related complications and dwell time catheterization using a researcher‑made checklist. The data was analyzed using IBM SPSS 16 software. Results: Extravasation was the most common complication (52.40%) in the splint group, and obstruction was the most common (34.50%) in the non‑splint group. The dwell time of peripheral venous catheterization mean, and standard deviation was 43.29 (33.12) hours in neonates with splints and 37.18 (7.70) hours in those without splints. The t‑test demonstrated a significant positive impact of splints on catheter dwell time (t375 = 2.59, p = 0.01). Conclusions: There was a significant positive effect of splints on length of stay. However, splints may aid in the delayed detection of extravasation, whereas the absence of a splint may lead to an increased incidence of catheter occlusion, necessitating earlier catheter removal.