Vascular Access Complications 101 – Causes, Impact, and Potential Solutions to Reduce Common Catheter Complications
Vascular access is a critical component of healthcare with vascular access device (VAD) use essential in healthcare settings around the world. Commonly used VAD catheters include peripheral devices such as peripheral intravenous catheters (IVs) and midlines, and central venous access devices such as peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) and centrally inserted central catheters (CICCs). While VADs are inserted to allow medications, fluids, and blood to be administered to patients to optimize their health, they also have known risks and the potential to heighten patient anxiety. Decreasing complications associated with VAD devices can both improve outcomes and increase patient trust.
Foreign Body Response to Intravenous Catheter Materials
Our body's normal reaction to foreign objects inserted into the bloodstream involves proteins sticking to them and the activation of immune cells as a protective process engulfing the object. Understanding how the body and devices, such as intravenous catheters, interact with the cells within the bloodstream is crucial to avoiding problems and device failures.
Publication Review: Do anti-microbial and anti-thrombogenic peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) materials prevent catheter complications?
The article, published in 2022, discusses the use and complications of peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs), which are increasingly used for administering various medical therapies due to their ease of insertion compared to traditional central venous catheters (CVCs). The article presents a study analyzing data from 42,562 hospitalized medical patients to compare the performance of coated antimicrobial PICCs, antithrombogenic polyurethane PICCs, and polyurethane PICCs in preventing CLABSI, venous thromboembolism (VTE), and occlusion in general and high-risk populations.
Device Selection: When to Choose a Midline versus a PICC
According to iData Research (iData Research, Vascular Access Devices Market Analysis, 2020-2026 MedSuite, Vancouver, BC), more than 340 million peripheral (PIV) and 7 million central venous catheters (CVC) are purchased for use each year in the USA.1 More than 30% of patients with vascular access devices (VAD) will experience complications.
The Implication of Complications
Complications from vascular access devices can prove deadly to patients and detrimental to hospital economics with reimbursement penalties tied to these complications. The good news is they can be greatly reduced with targeted tracking and common-sense measures.