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Updated: May 12, 2026
How to Administer Near-Infrared Spectroscopy in Critically ill Neonates, Infants, and Children
Published on: August 19, 2020
Near-infrared light device can improve intravenous cannulation in critically ill children
Ching-Yun Sun1, Kuan-Chiao Lee, I-Hsiu Lin
1Department of Nursing, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Insights
Near-infrared vein finders significantly improve vascular access in critically ill children. This technology reduces time and attempts for intravenous cannulation, benefiting both patients and healthcare providers.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric critical care medicine
- Medical device technology
- Vascular access procedures
Background:
- Vascular access is challenging in critically ill children.
- Efficient intravenous cannulation is crucial for timely treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate a near-infrared light vein-viewing device for pediatric vascular access.
- To compare its effectiveness against standard methods.
Main Methods:
- A randomized prospective observation trial involving 60 pediatric inpatients.
- Comparison of time to vessel identification, success rates, and number of attempts.
- Utilized a near-infrared light vein-viewing device versus a control group.
Main Results:
- Significantly less time to find the first vessel (126.37 vs. 383.61 seconds).
- Fewer attempts needed (median 1 vs. 2).
- Shorter total attempt time (186.16 vs. 497.23 seconds).
Conclusions:
- Near-infrared vein-viewing devices enhance vascular access in critically ill children.
- The technology can reduce overall medical time and associated costs.
Background:
Vascular access in critically ill children can be a real challenge for medical staff.
Methods:
To evaluate the effectiveness of a near-infrared light vein-viewing device for critically ill children, 60 pediatric inpatients were enrolled in a randomized prospective observation trial for intravenous cannulation. The patients' demographic data, mean time required to find the first available vessel, first-attempt success rate, mean number of attempts per patient, and the total time taken on the attempts per patient were compared.
Results:
Less time was required to find the first available vessel in the near-infrared light device group compared with the control group (126.37 vs. 383.61 seconds; p = 0.027). In addition, the near-infrared light device group had a fewer number of attempts compared with the control group (median 1 vs. 2; p = 0.004), and also a shorter total time of attempts per patient compared with the control group (186.16 vs. 497.23 seconds; p = 0.014).
Conclusion:
The use of a near-infrared light vein-viewing device for vascular access in critically ill children can decrease the total medical time and cost.
