Upper Arm Versus Forearm Placement of Long Peripheral Catheters for Blood Sampling: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: The impact of site selection on blood sampling and catheter functionality for long peripheral catheters (LPCs) is unclear.

Purpose: To compare outcomes of LPCs placed in the upper arm vs the forearm.

Methods: A single-site, randomized trial was conducted among adult patients requiring an LPC for difficult venous access or prolonged therapy.

Cost effectiveness of a vascular access education and training program for hospitalized emergency department patients.

Objective: Education and training in vascular access is a critical component to delivering quality vascular access care. Given that organizations must invest resources to implement and sustain high-quality vascular access programming, we aimed to demonstrate the cost effectiveness of a program (Operation STICK (OSTICK)) in the emergency department (ED).

Methods: This was an observational cohort study conducted at a tertiary care academic center with 120,000 ED visits.

Operation STICK: A vascular access specialty program for the generalist emergency medicine clinician.

Objective: Comprehensive education and training programs are urgently needed to improve vascular access outcomes in the emergency department (ED). This study aimed to demonstrate the success of a formalized vascular access program in developing competent ED clinicians in traditional and ultrasound-guided insertion methods.

Methods: This was a retrospective observational study exploring the success of trainees in obtaining competency in peripheral vascular access at an academic suburban ED with 120,000 annual visits.

Evaluating the impact of external forces on peripheral intravenous catheter movement using ultrasound: A randomized pilot study.

Background: A major contributor to peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) failure may be related to PIVC movement within the vein which is associated with vein wall damage. The magnitude of PIVC movement against the vein wall has not previously been quantified. This study aimed to examine PIVC movement within the vein when minor forces were applied to the PIVC.

A standardized educational program to improve peripheral vascular access outcomes in the emergency department: A quasi-experimental pre-post trial.

Objective: Difficult intravenous access (DIVA) patients are known to have disproportionately poorer vascular access outcomes. The impact of education and training on vascular access outcomes in this vulnerable population is unclear. We aim to demonstrate the success of a program (Operation (O) STICK) on improving vascular access outcomes in DIVA patients.

Bridging the Gap in Traditional PIVC Placement: An Evaluation of Operation STICK Vascular Access Outcomes.

Objective: Education and training is core to improving peripheral intravenous access outcomes. This study aimed to show that a vascular access training program (Operation STICK) in the emergency department (ED) improves the outcomes of traditionally placed peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVC).

Methods: This was a pre-post quasi-experimental study of traditionally placed PIVCs at a large ED in southeastern Michigan, United States.

Inadvertent Arterial Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter Insertion With Corresponding Electrocardiographic Tracings: A Case Report.

Electrocardiographic (ECG) tip confirmation is a validated technique to place the distal tip of a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) in the distal superior vena cava at or near the cavoatrial junction during point-of-care insertions. This case report discusses an inadvertent arterial PICC placement despite navigation technology demonstrating similar confirmatory ECG changes seen in standard venous insertions. The findings demonstrate that ECG navigation technology should not be used to rule out arterial PICC placement.