Poland's first vascular access team 3-year analysis: Insights and learnings

Area of Science:

• Vascular Access
• Medical Devices
• Nursing Practice

Background:

• Midline catheters (MCs) saw increased interest in Poland during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Previously, MCs were not widely used, and Poland lacked a formal vascular access team (VAT).
• This study examines the 3-year clinical use of MCs following their introduction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the clinical utilization of midline catheters (MCs) over a three-year period.
• To evaluate the impact of a nurse-led Vascular Access Team (VAT) on MC implementation.
• To assess the role of MCs in reducing the need for central venous access devices.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of adult patient records from January 2021 to December 2023.
• Inclusion of data for 727 midline catheters (MCs) and 293 Long Peripheral Catheters (LPCs).
• Data collected at the University Clinical Centre of the Medical University of Warsaw.

Main Results:

• The primary indication for cannulation was intravenous therapy exceeding 5 days (81.66%), often with difficult intravenous access (DIVA).
• Use of centrally inserted central catheters (CICCs) for DIVA decreased significantly from 2017 to 2023.
• Catheter removal reasons included completion of therapy (64.6%) and complications like occlusion (14.6%) and thrombosis (3.43%).

Conclusions:

• Implementing midline catheters (MCs) can effectively reduce the use of central venous catheters (CVCs).
• Successful MC programs require investment in staff training and competency development for nurses and physicians.
• Enhancing nursing expertise is vital for the optimal functioning of vascular access teams (VATs) in Poland.