Performance of a new softening expanding midline catheter in home intravenous therapy patients

This pilot study was performed to evaluate the performance of a midline catheter as an alternative to the conventional short peripheral catheters and central venous lines used to administer intravenous therapy to the patients at Caremark Homecare before this study. The midline catheters were inserted in home care patients primarily diagnosed with osteomyelitis and infections, for the delivery of approximately 16 days of I.V. antibiotic therapy. Midline catheter performance was compared with the published data on peripheral catheters and central venous lines because there are no other midline catheters available for clinical use that could be used as a study control. Through this pilot study, the importance of adequate dilution of medications and treatment of early aseptic mechanical phlebitis were realized. Also, a variety of patient types was found to be suited to the use of a midline catheter (wide range of age, weight, venous access, and diagnoses). These findings served as a basis for the ongoing formal study. The low complication rate, insertion ease, and suitability of a wide variety of patient types makes the midline catheter a better alternative to peripheral catheters or central venous lines for intermediate-length I.V. therapies of 1 to 6 weeks.