Effectiveness of Transillumination Device on Reducing Peripheral Intravenous Catheter Placement Complications in Pediatric Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study designs: Randomized Controlled Trial, Clinical Trial
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) placement is a routine procedure in pediatric care that is associated with significant complications. PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to determine whether the use of a transillumination device during PIVC placement can help reduce the complications associated with PIVC placement in children. METHODS: This randomized controlled study was conducted on a sample of children aged 5-18 years who were followed up in a pediatric surgery ward. Children requiring PIVC lines who were deemed to have difficult intravenous access with a difficult intravenous access score >4 were randomized into either the intervention group, which used a transillumination device, or the standard care group, which received standard assistance with PIVC line placement. The three main outcomes assessed in this preliminary study were: time to successful PIVC placement, pain on a numerical rating scale of 1 to 10, and number of PIVC placement complications (i.e., infiltration, extravasation, or obstruction). Descriptive and correlational statistical analyses were employed. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-nine children were recruited and enrolled as participants in this study. The preliminary results showed time to successful PIVC placement in the intervention group reduced from 94 s to 71 s (p<.01), pain reduced from 4.81 to 3.39 (p<.01), and number of complications reduced from 18 s to 8 s (p<.05). The use of Veinlite in vascular access imaging in the intervention group achieved a 2-fold reduction in intravenous complications (odds ratio [OR]=2.373, 95% CI [0.95, 5.90], p=.04). CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The findings of this study suggest that the use of transillumination devices has the potential to reduce the total number of PIVC-related complications, reduce perceived pain levels, and reduce the procedural time required for intravenous access. Transillumination devices may be safely used to reduce the pain associated with PIVC in children.
Source: Journal of Nursing Research
Institutions: Ege University, Bakırçay Üniversitesi
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7225433075