Intravenous care: the benefits of closed-system connectors
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 30, 2026

A Protocol to Set Up Needle-Free Connector with Positive Displacement on Central Venous Catheter in Intensive Care Unit
Published on: July 13, 2019
1Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, Plymouth.
Abstract:
Following a review of venous access care, a needleless closed-system connector was introduced to Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust. A cannulation audit and a survey of central catheter care found a wide diversity of practice. The objective was to write a procedure for central line care that could be used by most clinical departments and that could be employed to improve the standard of cannula care. A trust-wide review found that staff appeared unconcerned about the care of cannulae and rarely documented their practice. In addition, general wards had a misguided idea of what central line care involved as a result of their infrequent exposure to them and the inconsistent information given to them by specialist wards. To help unify practice and simplify information a different approach was required. This led to a 12-month, nurse-led project to develop a tender specification for closed-system connectors and a 2-year contract being awarded to Kimal plc for its Clave connector.
Related Concept Videos
Hemodialysis II: Procedure and Complications
Parentral Nutrition: Centeral and Peripheral Parental Nutrition
PN can be administered through two primary routes:
1. Central Parenteral Nutrition (CPN):
CPN involves delivering a high concentration of nutrients through a large vein. This is typically achieved using a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) or,...
Hemodialysis I: Introduction
Hemodialysis III: Nursing Management
Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy
Two-Compartment Open Model: Extravascular Administration
The absorption exponent (ka) indicates the speed at which the drug is...
