2022 Volume 37 Issue 2 Pages 35-40
Currently, there is no established method for securing indwelling peripheral intravenous catheters in neonates. We investigated the safety of the transparent film dressing method compared with the nonsterile tape method in neonates who were admitted to our neonatal intensive care unit. We used nonsterile tape for the first 4 months, and transparent film dressing for the next 4 months. The complications related to infusions that occurred within a week of the treatment were recorded. Catheter removal before the treatment period was defined as catheter failure and was considered the primary endpoint. There were 239 cases of peripheral intravenous infusion of which transparent film dressing was used in 77 (32%) cases and the nonsterile tape was used in 162 (68%). There was no substantial difference in the incidence of catheter failure between the two groups: 43 (56%) in the transparent film dressing and 95 (59%) in the non-sterile tape group. Hypertonic infusion (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval] 8.31 [3.03-22.80]) and infusion rate of more than 3 mL/hour (2.61 [1.75-3.91]) were identified as the risk factors for catheter failure, and film dressing was not associated with catheter failure. The transparent film dressing might be a safe securing method for peripheral intravenous catheters in neonates.
