Routine Replacement or Clinically Indicated Replacement of Peripheral Intravenous Catheters

Introduction: Intravenous catheter replacement time is still one of the challenges before care systems. Replacement of the catheter after 72 hours is now implemented in many treatment centers.

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the complications of peripheral intravenous catheters 72 and 96 hours after indwelling.

Methods: This clinical trial study was conducted on 123 patients with the inclusion criteria and the subjects were chosen by block randomization. The catheter insertion site was assessed by the nurses of the surgery ward using Infusion Nurses Society scales on assessment of leaking, infiltration and phlebitis, and assessing the signs of obstruction. If the signs of complication were not observed, the catheters were assessed up to 72 hours in the control group and up to 96 hours in the intervention group. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics such as the Chi-square, Mann Whitney, Fisher’s exact test, Kruskal Wallis and logistic regression.

Results: There was no significant difference in the complications (phlebitis, infiltration, leakage and obstruction) of the two groups of catheter for 72 hours and up to 96 hours. But comparing the complications in the two groups of control and intervention before and after 72 hours showed significant statistical differences (phlebitis p=0.0001, infiltration and leakage p=0.014, obstruction p=0.002). These complications were less in catheters in the intervention group during 72-96 hours.

Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that the catheters can keep in the site to 96 hours if they do not have complications after 72 hours. It seems that by assessing intravenous lines using standard scales for assessing the catheter insertion site, unnecessary catheter changes can be prevented. Therefore, patients experience less pain and nurses' time and equipment will be saved.