Prevalence of and factors associated with difficult peripheral venipuncture in adult surgical patients
Monteiro DAT, Julio César de la Torre Montero, Adriana Cristina Nicolussi, Renata Karina Reis, Maria Helena Barbosa, Toffano SEM
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of difficult venous access in adult patients admitted to a surgical unit. METHOD: This observational prospective cohort study included 235 patients from a Brazilian hospital. Clinical data were collected by direct observation and analyzed by descriptive, inferential statistics, and multiple binomial logistic regressions. Odds ratios were also calculated. RESULTS: Most of the patients (66.4%) were men and self-reported as white (59.2%). The prevalence of difficult intravenous access was 32.8%. Predictors of peripheral intravenous cannula insertion failure were history of difficult intravenous access and nonvisibility of the vein. CONCLUSION: History of difficult intravenous access and a nonvisible venous network were significant predictors of peripheral cannula insertion failure in adults undergoing clinical surgery. The prevalence of difficult intravenous access was 32.8%.