Survey of Techniques to Induce Vasodilation Performed by Clinical Nurses During Short Peripheral Catheter Placement

Abstract

　To adequately secure vascular access, the vein must be sufficiently distended so that a puncture site for short peripheral catheter placement can be determined. Techniques to induce venous distention are provided in the related literature and their use in healthy individuals has been verified, but methods differ between individuals and no methods have been established as a standardized nursing technique. In the present study, in a clinical setting, we video recorded a total of 143 punctures by 42 nurses to secure vascular access and analyzed the time required for avascularization, stroking, and tapping, and whether a hot compress was used at the puncture site. We found that avascularization time tended to increase with age, that the time required for avascularization and tapping increased when determining the site for securing vascular access was difficult, and that hot compresses were used when administering anticancer drugs. These results indicate that more time is required for vasodilation with advanced age due to changes in blood vessel characteristics and circulation, that more time is required for avascularization and tapping when determining the placement site for a short peripheral catheter is difficult, and that hot compresses are used when anticancer drugs are administered.