Peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVCs, PVCs and PIVs) are some of the most frequently used vascular access devices in health care settings, with 60% – 90% of hospitalized patients requiring an IV during a stay.1 However, while placing a PIVC is one of the most common invasive medical procedures performed worldwide,1 it can lead to complications, patient anxiety and dissatisfaction, as well as nurse anxiety. Many studies point to why PIVCs should be at the center — not the periphery — of initiatives to prevent catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSI), reduce clinical cost and improve patient outcomes. This clinical evidence summary demonstrates the importance of making PIVCs a central focus to reduce complications, while outlining methods that may help improve PIVC practice.
↧