Outcomes of POCUS-Guided Peripheral Intravenous Access in Difficult Venous Access Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Point Of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) guided peripheral intravenous (PIV) access offers a safer and more efficient alternative for patients with difficult venous access. A systematic review of 15 studies with 1485 patients, sourced from five databases, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, showed POCUS significantly improved success rates (OR: 4.25), first-attempt success (OR: 5.31), reduced attempts (MD: -0.83), and decreased procedure time (MD: -9.75 min). Fewer complications (OR: 0.49) observed with POCUS compared to standard techniques. Statistical analyses were conducted using Review Manager, and quality was assessed with Cochrane Risk of Bias and Newcastle Ottawa tools. Findings support POCUS as a safe, time-saving procedure for improving patient outcomes.