Effect of Adding a Pediatric Vascular Access Team Component to a Pediatric Peripheral Vascular Access Algorithm

Area of Science:

• Pediatric critical care
• Vascular access techniques
• Healthcare quality improvement

Background:

• Intravenous (IV) access is crucial for pediatric patient care.
• Current IV placement outcomes in children require improvement.
• Standardized algorithms and specialized teams can optimize vascular access.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a pediatric peripheral vascular access algorithm used with a pediatric vascular access team (PPVAA-VAT).
• To compare IV placement outcomes between PPVAA-VAT and the Pediatric Peripheral Vascular Access Algorithm (PPVAA)-alone.

Main Methods:

• Prospective, comparative, two-group study design involving hospitalized children.
• Utilized multivariable logistic regression to analyze differences in cohort outcomes.
• Compared outcomes between PPVAA-alone (n=302) and PPVAA-VAT (n=294) IV attempts.

Main Results:

• The PPVAA-VAT group demonstrated significantly higher first attempt and overall IV success rates (p < .001 and p = .002, respectively) after adjustment.
• Fewer IV attempts and less staff were required per encounter in the PPVAA-VAT group compared to PPVAA-alone.
• Adjusted analysis confirmed improved outcomes with the PPVAA-VAT approach.

Conclusions:

• The integration of a pediatric vascular access team with a standardized algorithm (PPVAA-VAT) enhances IV placement success in pediatric patients.
• This combined approach leads to greater first-attempt and overall IV success.
• PPVAA-VAT utilization is associated with reduced IV attempts and fewer staff needed for successful vascular access.