Infrared vein imaging for insertion of peripheral intravenous catheter for patients requiring isolation for SARS-CoV-2 infection: a nonrandomized clinical trial

Introduction Establishing intravenous access is essential but may be difficult to achieve for patients requiring isolation for SARS-CoV-2 infection. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of infrared vein visualizer on the peripheral intravenous catheter therapy in COVID-19 patients. Methods A nonrandomized clinical trial was performed. One-hundred and twenty-two COVID-19 patients that required peripheral intravenous cannulation were divided into two groups with 60 in the control group and 62 in the intervention group. Conventional venipuncture method was applied to the control group while infrared vein imaging device was applied in the intervention group. The first attempt success rate, total procedure time and patients’ satisfaction score were compared between two groups using chi-square, t-test, and z-test (also known as Mann-Whitney U test) statistics. Results The first attempt success rate in the intervention group was significantly higher than that of control group (91.94% vs 76.67%, ꭓ2=5.41, P=0.02). The procedure time was shorter in the intervention group (M=211.44, SD=68.58 seconds vs M=388.27, SD=88.97 seconds, t=12.27, P<0.001). Patients from the intervention group experienced higher degree of satisfaction (7.5 vs 6, z=-3.31, P<0.001). Conclusions Peripheral intravenous catheter insertion assisted by infrared vein visualizer could improve the first attempt success rate of venipuncture, shorten the procedure time and increase patients’ satisfaction.