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Published on: July 13, 2019
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Flushing peripheral intravenous catheters: A scoping review
Jiaxin Deng1, Orlaith Hernon1, Caitríona Duggan2
1School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland.
Plos One
|August 19, 2025
Summary
Peripheral intravascular catheter (PIVC) flushing practices lack standardization, leading to varied techniques, volumes, and frequencies. More clinical research is needed to optimize PIVC maintenance and prevent complications.
Area of Science:
- Nursing
- Vascular Access
- Infection Control
Background:
- Peripheral intravascular catheters (PIVCs) are crucial for intravenous therapies but prone to complications like occlusion and infection.
- Catheter flushing is a common maintenance practice to ensure patency and reduce risks.
- Current flushing practices exhibit significant inconsistencies in technique, volume, and frequency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and synthesize current evidence on peripheral intravascular catheter (PIVC) flushing practices.
- To identify gaps and inconsistencies in PIVC flushing techniques and their impact on outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive scoping review following JBI methodology was conducted.
- Searches included major databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL) and grey literature.
- Data were charted using the PAGER framework to analyze patterns, advances, gaps, evidence, and research recommendations.
Main Results:
- 39 studies met inclusion criteria, revealing wide variability in flushing techniques (continuous, intermittent, pulsatile), volumes (5-10 mL), and frequencies (6-24 hours).
- Pulsatile flushing showed potential in lab settings for patency and reduced colonization but lacked robust clinical validation.
- Fluid dynamics suggest high flushing velocities may cause endothelial injury, highlighting the need for standardization.
Conclusions:
- Existing research on PIVC flushing is inconsistent, lacking sufficient clinical trials and mechanistic data.
- Further investigation is required to establish optimal flushing protocols for PIVC patency, endothelial integrity, and complication prevention.
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