Factors affecting the life span of peripheral intravenous lines in hospitalized infants.

A study was undertaken to identify the effect of insertion site, cannula size and brand type, blood, and unit setting on the life span of IVs in hospitalized infants. A comparative descriptive design was used to study 250 data sets gathered from charts of infants 12 months of age and under, in the NICU, PICU, and general pediatric units at a children's medical center in the Southwest. Analysis revealed no significant difference in life span of nonelectively discontinued IVs by insertion site, cannula size, or brand type. A statistical difference was found in the life span of IVs regarding blood infusion: IVs in which blood had infused lasted longer than those without blood products. A statistical difference in IV life span was also found between the unit settings, with a longer life span for IVs on the general pediatric units than for those on the NICU. Research-based knowledge about factors that influence the life span of IVs in infants could be helpful in making practice decisions and in parent teaching.