Comparison of the Effectiveness of Ultrasound-guided Techniques and Infrared Illumination, Compared With the Standard Approach to Peripheral Venous Line Placement in People With Difficult Venous Access

Overview

Peripheral venous catheterization (PVC) is the most common invasive procedure in healthcare worldwide. Improving the success rate of PVC on the first attempt is crucial for patients, as it impacts pain, anxiety, the risk of extravasation, rapid access to care, and the patient-provider relationship. For healthcare providers, a higher success rate enhances self-confidence and autonomy, while institutions benefit from improved reputation and reduced costs. In the Poitiers hosptial, one in ten catheters is used in imaging services, with CT scan departments accounting for 66.3% of catheter usage due to iodinated contrast injections. Literature suggests two techniques to enhance PVC success: ultrasound-guided and infrared illumination methods. These techniques appear effective primarily for patients with difficult venous access. Additionally, the A-DIVA clinical score has been developed to predict first-attempt success rates. However, no studies in Europe have compared the effectiveness of these two techniques in imaging settings or based on the A-DIVA score. This study aims to identify the most effective technique for PVC in patients with difficult venous access.

This is a prospective, controlled, randomized, three-arm, single-center, superiority trial involving patients with difficult venous access. Control group: Classical method based on clinical examination (visualization and palpation). Experimental1 group: Ultrasound-guided method. Experimental2 group: Infrared illumination method. A total of 249 patients will be enrolled, with 82 patients in each group. The inclusion period will last 12 months, and each participant will be involved for a maximum of 4 hours. The total duration of the clinical investigation will be 1 year and 4 hours.