Table 1 Patient and insertion characteristics at baseline (n = 160)
Characteristic | Total (n = 160) | Flush volume | Flush frequency | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3 mL (n = 80) | 10 mL (n = 80) | 24 h (n = 79) | 6 h (n = 81) | ||
Group size | 160 (100) | 80 (50) | 80 (50) | 79 (49) | 81 (51) |
Age (median, IQR) | 63 (24) | 63 (22) | 64 (30) | 63 (26) | 64 (23) |
Gender (male) | 93 (58) | 53 (66) | 40 (50) | 47 (59) | 46 (57) |
Overweight/obesea | 70 (44) | 33 (41) | 37 (46) | 33 (42) | 37 (46) |
Comorbidities (≥2) | 110 (69) | 51 (64) | 59 (74) | 57 (72) | 53 (65) |
Skin integrity (poor) | 24 (15) | 12 (15) | 12 (15) | 12 (15) | 12 (15) |
Infection (any type) | 43 (27) | 22 (28) | 21 (26) | 18 (23) | 25 (31) |
Antibiotic treatment | 115 (72) | 57 (71) | 58 (72) | 60 (76) | 55 (68) |
Frequency of IV txb: | |||||
- 0 | 15 (11) | 10 (12) | 5 (6) | 8 (10) | 7 (9) |
- 1–2 times daily | 23 (17) | 10 (12) | 13 (16) | 14 (18) | 9 (11) |
- 3–4 times daily | 71 (54) | 35 (44) | 36 (45) | 37 (47) | 34 (42) |
- ≥5 times daily | 23 (17) | 13 (16) | 10 (12) | 8 (10) | 15 (19) |
Inserted in dominant arm | 80 (52) | 37 (47) | 36 (49) | 36 (48) | 37 (47) |
Insertion point: | |||||
- post. wrist | 39 (24) | 22 (28) | 17 (21) | 18 (23) | 21 (26) |
- hand | 38 (24) | 18 (22) | 20 (25) | 18 (23) | 20 (25) |
- post. u/l forearm | 30 (19) | 15 (19) | 15 (19) | 17 (22) | 13 (16) |
- ant. u/l forearm | 29 (18) | 15 (19) | 14 (18) | 14 (18) | 15 (19) |
- cub. fossa/ant. u arm | 24 (15) | 10 (12) | 14 (18) | 12 (15) | 12 (15) |
Vein quality (poor) | 85 (53) | 41 (51) | 44 (55) | 39 (49) | 46 (57) |
Insertion in wardc | 118 (74) | 59 (74) | 59 (74) | 59 (75) | 59 (73) |
Inserted by: | |||||
- IV nurse inserter | 72 (45) | 36 (45) | 36 (45) | 39 (49) | 33 (41) |
- any doctor | 68 (43) | 35 (44) | 33 (41) | 35 (44) | 33 (41) |
- any nurse/unknown | 20 (13) | 9 (11) | 11 (14) | 5 (6) | 15 (19) |
Multiple insertion attempts | 32 (20) | 15 (19) | 17 (22) | 17 (22) | 15 (19) |
Device sized: | |||||
- 22 gauge | 76 (48) | 37 (46) | 39 (49) | 35 (44) | 41 (51) |
- 20 gauge | 67 (42) | 33 (41) | 34 (42) | 35 (44) | 32 (40) |
Extension tubing | 82 (51) | 41 (51) | 41 (51) | 43 (54) | 39 (48) |
3-way tap | 118 (74) | 59 (74) | 59 (74) | 59 (75) | 59 (73) |