Effect of Tubular Bandage Application on Peripheral Intravenous Catheter Usage Time and Infiltration in Children

In pediatric patients, placement of peripheral intravenous catheters is the most commonly performed invasive medical procedure. In addition to the administration of medications, parenteral nutrition, intravenous fluids, and blood products, peripheral intravenous catheters are placed prophylactically before procedures and for emergency use in unstable patients.

One of the most common complications of peripheral intravenous catheters is infiltration. Infiltration is a vascular trauma resulting from a lesion in the vascular layers and subsequent perforation, resulting in the leakage of medications or non-vesicant solutions into the tissues surrounding the site of placement of the peripheral venous catheter.

In pediatric patients, physical factors (e.g. hyperactivity, sweating), tight fixation (may affect blood circulation and iatrogenic skin injury), loose fixation (may cause peripheral intravenous catheter displacement and infection), poor-quality fixation (may cause unplanned removal and skin injuries due to pressure), etc. causes more peripheral intravenous catheter fixation problems in pediatric patients than in adult patients Additional fixation products may be effective in preventing dislocation and micromotion in an active pediatric patient. However, limited recommendations regarding medical adhesive tapes and additional fixation products are guided only by low-evidence studies. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of tubular bandage use on the duration of pediatric peripheral intravenous catheter use and the incidence of infiltration.