Peripheral Intravenous Catheter Complications: A Comparative Analysis of 6 Reference Documents.

Area of Science:

• Medical devices
• Clinical practice standards
• Infection prevention

Background:

• Peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVCs) are widely used but associated with complications.
• Existing pan-European guidelines for PIVC use lack clarity and standardization.
• Clinicians require unambiguous guidance for managing PIVC-associated issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate current evidence-based European standards for PIVC good clinical practice.
• To assess if existing guidelines meet clinicians' needs for standardized PIVC complication management.
• To identify gaps in current guidelines regarding PIVC care.

Main Methods:

• Systematic search and analysis of relevant European reference documents on PIVC use.
• Identification of terms related to PIVC complication prevention and management.
• Construction of a consensus matrix to visualize terminology agreement across guidelines.
• Development of recommendations for improved clarity and standardization.

Main Results:

• Few European documents specifically addressed PIVCs or underwent quality review.
• None of the reviewed documents adhered to the GRADE framework for evidence rating.
• Ambiguous terminology and omissions of key terms were prevalent across guidelines.
• Significant variation existed in the approach to PIVC complication prevention and management.

Conclusions:

• A need exists for a new English-language European guideline for PIVC complication prevention.
• The guideline should feature consensus terminology for consistent clinical practice.
• A standardized, systematic, and transparent evidence-grading method is essential.
• Improved standardization is crucial for effective PIVC management across Europe.