Variation In Success of Intravenous (IV) Placement With Observation Using New Techniques (VISION)

University of Alberta

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 4

Conditions: Peripheral Phlebotomy; Catheterization

Treatments: Device: Ultrasound; Other: Conventional technique; Device: Veinviewer

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01133652

G049000062 (Other Grant/Funding Number)

Pro00004389

Details and patient eligibility

About

Children fear having an intravenous (IV) needle placed because of the pain that they will experience. The more needle punctures that a child has to endure before the IV is successfully placed, the greater the pain experienced and anxiety suffered. In addition, false starts increase the demands on medical staff and can increase the length of the emergency department stay. Often, veins are difficult to see or feel, particularly in an unwell, dehydrated child or in young infants who have more fat below the skin surface. Also, the venous pattern below the skin surface naturally varies from person to person and therefore success in placing IVs leaves room for improvement. Technology may be able to play an important role is improving the rates of success. The investigators wish to investigate whether the use of either an Ultrasound machine or a VeinViewer machine can improve the rate of success of the initial attempt (skin puncture) at peripheral IV placement in comparison to the current standard approach.

Full description

Peripheral IV line placement is one of the most common and challenging painful procedures performed in the pediatric emergency department (PED). The lack of a clear visual guide for IV placement often leads to multiple painful attempts; delays in urgent treatment; increased use of human resources; increased costs; and increased anxiety in the patient, the parents and the staff. The research plan is a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to compare the use of two new technologies with the current standard method for vein location and IV placement in children.We would like to know if either of these technologies improve rates of successful IV placement on first attempt. Furthermore we would like to know if either technology leads to decreased time spent by staff on the procedure or decreased overall number of painful attempts. Information on nursing satisfaction, parental satisfaction and cost analysis will also be obtained.

Enrollment: 399 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 1 day to 16 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Children 0-16 presenting to the Pediatric Emergency Department (PED)
• Require IV as part of routine care
• Knowledge of English language

Exclusion criteria

• Child in critical condition
• Child requires urgent IV placement
• Central line available

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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399 participants in 3 patient groups

VeinViewer

Active Comparator group

Description:

The Veinviewer machine will be used to guide intravenous access.

Treatment:

Device: Veinviewer

Ultrasound

Active Comparator group

Description:

The Ultrasound will be used to guide intravenous access.

Treatment:

Device: Ultrasound

Conventional IV placement

Active Comparator group

Description:

IV will be placed using conventional technique

Treatment:

Other: Conventional technique