Background: Intravenous (IV) catheter insertion may cause adverse reactions. It is necessary to investigate optimal methods for reducing blood return and extending the usage time of IV catheter by existing technologies. We investigated the efficacy of the PosiFlow regulator with an infusion clip for preventing IV catheter plugging due to venous blood return.
Methods: From January 2017 to August 2017, 960 patients requiring IV catheterization were recruited and by using the block randomization method randomly allocated to 4 groups (n=240 in each group): a control group receiving IV catheter with infusion clip; experimental group A receiving IV catheter without infusion clip; experimental group B receiving an IV catheter with the PosiFlow regulator; and experimental group C receiving an IV catheter with a PosiFlow regulator and infusion clip. The rates of catheter plugging and blood return were compared among groups.
Results: In different reasons for needle pulling, The rates of catheter plugging and blood return in experimental group C (Received IV catheterization with an infusion clip and PosiFlow regulato) were the lowest among all groups (P<0.05). In different puncture sites, forearm puncture further reduced IV catheter plugging in all groups compared to other puncture sites.
Conclusions: Catheter plugging and blood return can be significantly reduced by combining the PosiFlow regulator and an infusion clip, resulting in reduced medical costs and patient distress from catheter reinsertion.
Keywords: Intravenous catheter (IV catheter); PosiFlow; catheter obstruction; infusion clip.