Significantly improved peripheral intravenous catheter performance in neonates: insertion ease, dwell time, complication rate, and costs.

A prospective, randomized, controlled study was performed in neonates in an intensive care nursery to compare the performance of a peripheral intravenous catheter made of Aquavene material (test catheter) with that of a conventional peripheral catheter made of Teflon material (control catheter). Aquavene is a newly developed biomaterial that softens and expands on contact with body fluids. A total of 105 catheters (50 test and 55 control) were inserted in 63 neonates. The median time to a catheter-related complication was 3.60 days for the test catheters and 1.75 days for the control catheters (p = 0.0007). Infiltration rate for the test catheters was 56% as compared with 78% for the control catheters (p = 0.03). The test catheters provided fewer catheter-related complications (p = 0.006), with 34% of the test catheters reaching end of therapy as compared with 9% of the control catheters (p = 0.004). On average, 1.8 test catheters were used per insertion versus 2.3 control catheters (p = 0.08). The test catheters were rated easier to insert (p = 0.05), with a shorter time required for insertion. Because of improved performance, cost savings were realized with the test catheters after the first day of therapy, even though the per unit cost of the test catheter was greater. These data indicate that the test catheter, made of Aquavene material, is superior to the Teflon catheter for peripheral intravenous therapy in neonates.