European recommendations on the proper indication and use of peripheral venous access devices (the ERPIUP consensus): A WoCoVA project.

Since several innovations have recently changed the criteria of choice and management of peripheral venous access (new devices, new techniques of insertion, new recommendations for maintenance), the WoCoVA Foundation (WoCoVA = World Conference on Vascular Access) has developed an international Consensus with the following objectives: to propose a clear and useful classification of the currently available peripheral venous access devices; to clarify the proper indication of central versus peripheral venous access; discuss the indications of the different peripheral venous access devices (short peripheral cannulas vs long peripheral cannulas vs midline catheters); to define the proper techniques of insertion and maintenance that should be recommended today. To achieve these purposes, WoCoVA have decided to adopt a European point of view, considering some relevant differences of terminology between North America and Europe in this area of venous access and the need for a common basis of understanding among the experts recruited for this project. The ERPIUP Consensus (ERPIUP = European Recommendations for Proper Indication and Use of Peripheral venous access) was designed to offer systematic recommendations for clinical practice, covering every aspect of management of peripheral venous access devices in the adult patient: indication, insertion, maintenance, prevention and treatment of complications, removal.

SecurAstaP trial: securement with SecurAcath versus StatLock for peripherally inserted central catheters, a randomised open trial.

Objectives: To assess the effect on needed nursing time for dressing change.

Design, Setting, Participants: A parallel-group, open-label, randomised controlled trial in patients who are in need for a peripherally inserted central catheter insertion in one teaching hospital in Belgium. The follow-up lasted 180 days or until catheter removal, whatever came first.

Flushing and Locking of Venous Catheters: Available Evidence and Evidence Deficit.

Flushing and locking of intravenous catheters are thought to be essential in the prevention of occlusion. The clinical sign of an occlusion is catheter malfunction and flushing is strongly recommended to ensure a well-functioning catheter. Therefore fluid dynamics, flushing techniques, and sufficient flushing volumes are important matters in adequate flushing in all catheter types.

Epidemiology of catheter-related infections in adult patients receiving home parenteral nutrition: a systematic review.

Background And Aims: Catheter-related infection (CRI) is the most common and serious complication for adult patients receiving home parenteral nutrition (HPN). Our aim is to provide epidemiological data on infection incidence, infecting pathogens and contributing risk factors.

Methods: Four electronic databases (Embase, Medline, IPA, CINAHL) were screened for eligible studies published between 1970 and March 2012.

Management of functional complications of totally implantable venous access devices by an advanced practice nursing team: 5 years of clinical experience.

Purpose: Our aim is to describe the number and distribution of requests addressed to an Advanced Practice Nursing team for functional problems of totally implantable venous access devices (TIVADs) and to describe, in detail, the malfunction management by the type and number of additional investigations and treatment modalities.

Method: The Advanced Practice Nursing team recorded data about all requests for support as part of the standard care. A specific protocol, the Leuven Malfunction Management Protocol was used for troubleshooting.

Systematic review: malfunction of totally implantable venous access devices in cancer patients.

Purpose: Malfunction of totally implantable venous access devices is a common complication. The purpose was to identify definitions used to describe malfunction and to investigate the incidence of malfunction in different types of port and catheter designs.

Methods: Relevant studies were identified in PubMed that were published between January 1993 and February 2011.