Abstract
During catheter placement, peripheral intravenous access is affected by the visibility of the vein, such that the risk of peripheral nerve injuries and arterial punctures, increases as the visibility decreases. This study examined the relation between vein visibility and (a) vein width, (b) vein depth, (c) position of the artery relative to the vein, and (d) skin color. This was an observational study with prospective data collection. A total of 20 healthy young women (58 veins and 18 arteries) were examined. As a result, vein visibility demonstrated significant differences in relation to vein depth, but not in relation to the other three factors. The mean depth (SD) was 2.7 (0.7) mm for visible veins and 4.6 (1.8) mm for invisible veins (p=0.0001). The cut off point was 3.0 mm (AUC=0.919 95％ CI-0.84 to 0.99), indicating that peripheral veins for catheter placement are more likely to be invisible when the depth is 3.0 mm or more. These findings highlight the need for two kinds of venipuncture skills : those for invisible veins with a depth of 3.0 mm or more, and those that will prevent arterial puncture regardless of vein visibility.
