Clinical Research Directory

Single Lumen Midline Catheter vs Ultrasound Guided Peripheral IV as Performed by Bedside Emergency Department Registered Nurses

Obtaining intravenous (IV) access is one of the most common procedures performed in the emergency department (ED). IV access is necessary for many aspects of patient care, including blood tests, administration of medications and intravenous fluids, and diagnostic imaging. However, some patients have difficult intravenous access (DIVA), making it challenging to successfully place an IV catheter. Difficulty obtaining IV access can lead to delays in diagnosis and treatment, prolonged emergency department stays, multiple needle punctures, and increased patient discomfort. Several specialized IV devices are available for patients with DIVA. Two commonly used ultrasound-guided devices are long peripheral intravenous catheters and single-lumen midline catheters. Both devices are inserted into veins using ultrasound guidance, but they differ in catheter length and expected duration of use. Long peripheral IV catheters are commonly used in emergency departments but may fail relatively quickly. Midline catheters may remain functional for longer periods and may reduce the need for additional IV insertions during a patient's hospital stay. However, these devices have traditionally been inserted by specialized clinicians, such as members of vascular access teams, rather than by bedside emergency department nurses, who perform most vascular access procedures in many emergency departments. The purpose of this study is to compare ultrasound-guided single-lumen midline catheters with ultrasound-guided long peripheral IV catheters when both procedures are performed by specially trained bedside emergency department nurses. The study will evaluate whether midline catheters can be inserted as successfully and as safely as long peripheral IV catheters in adult emergency department patients with difficult intravenous access. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either an ultrasound-guided single-lumen midline catheter or an ultrasound-guided long peripheral IV catheter. Researchers will compare the two devices by measuring procedural success, catheter-related complications, catheter dwell time, completion of care using the original device, and patient satisfaction. The results of this study may help determine whether bedside emergency department nurses with training and experience in ultrasound-guided vascular access can successfully use single-lumen midline catheters in routine clinical practice. The study will also evaluate which vascular access device provides the best balance of safety, reliability, and patient experience for emergency department patients with difficult intravenous access. This information may help guide future recommendations for vascular access device selection in the emergency department.

Comparison of Traditional and Ultrasound-Guided Techniques for Vascular Access in Patients With Difficult Venous Access in Emergency Department.

The aim of this clinical trial is to compare the use of ultrasound versus the traditional palpation and visualization technique for vascular punctures, both peripheral venous and arterial punctures for arterial blood gas sampling, in patients presenting to hospital emergency departments. The main questions it seeks to answer are: Does the use of ultrasound facilitate peripheral venous cannulation in patients with difficult venous access in the emergency department? Does the use of ultrasound facilitate arterial puncture in patients presenting to the emergency department who require arterial blood gases? The researchers will compare the use of ultrasound with the traditional technique in vascular punctures by emergency department nurses. To determine the differences in the number of attempts needed, the number of professionals needed to perform the technique, the time invested, the pain produced with both techniques, etc., the researchers will compare the use of ultrasound with the traditional technique for vascular punctures by emergency department nurses.