Risk factors for infiltration in children and adolescents with peripheral intravenous catheters

Abstract

Objectives: to estimate the incidence of infiltration and the factors associated with its occurrence in children and adolescents in the operative period and with peripheral intravenous catheters. Methods: a longitudinal and prospective study with children and adolescents using peripheral intravenous catheters, conducted at the surgical clinic unit of a pediatric hospital in Feira de Santana, State of Bahia, from April 2015 to December 2016. The study used Pearson’s chi-square and Fisher’s exact test for the analysis. It also applied multiple analyses using Poisson regression with robust variance. Results: the incidence of infiltration was 31.2% and was associated with female sex (RR=0.53; CI=[0.30–0.96]), non-eutrophic children (RR=2.27; CI=[1.25-4.20]), who used non-irritating and non-vesicant drugs (RR=1.72; CI=[1.03-2.87]), vesicant drugs (RR=1.84; CI=[1.05-3.22]) and irritating/vesicant electrolytes (RR=2.35; CI=[1.38-3.97]). Conclusions: the study suggests the development of strategies that will help in the prevention of this adverse event through the knowledge of the associated factors.