Evaluation of intravenous cannula and administration set fixation methods

Area of Science:

• Military Medicine
• Emergency Medicine
• Medical Device Fixation

Background:

• Effective fixation of intravenous (IV) cannulas and administration sets is critical for medical interventions, especially in austere environments.
• Conventional hospital fixation methods often prove inadequate for the demanding conditions encountered in military field scenarios.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate and compare the efficacy of different IV cannula fixation methods under simulated military field conditions.
• To determine the most effective, practical, and cost-efficient fixation technique for use in combat casualty care.

Main Methods:

• Two prospective, randomized clinical trials were conducted.
• Four fixation methods were tested: gauze bandage, adhesive bandage, Coban wrap, and plastic wrap.
• Evaluations included resistance to field conditions and impact on intravenous fluid flow.

Main Results:

• Plastic wrap demonstrated the fastest application time among all tested methods.
• Plastic wrap exhibited superior durability in simulated field conditions.
• Minimal negative effects on intravenous fluid flow were observed with plastic wrap fixation.
• Plastic wrap was identified as the most cost-effective option.

Conclusions:

• Plastic wrap is the optimal method for IV cannula and administration set fixation in military field operations.
• This technique ensures reliable fluid delivery and medication administration in challenging environments.
• The findings support the adoption of plastic wrap for enhanced field medical readiness.