Near-infrared light device can improve intravenous cannulation in critically ill children

Background: Vascular access in critically ill children can be a real challenge for medical staff. Methods: To evaluate the effectiveness of a near-infrared light vein-viewing device for critically ill children, 60 pediatric inpatients were enrolled in a randomized prospective observation trial for intravenous cannulation. The patients' demographic data, mean time required to find the first available vessel, first-attempt success rate, mean number of attempts per patient, and the total time taken on the attempts per patient were compared. Results: Less time was required to find the first available vessel in the near-infrared light device group compared with the control group (126.37 vs. 383.61 seconds; p = 0.027). In addition, the near-infrared light device group had a fewer number of attempts compared with the control group (median 1 vs. 2; p = 0.004), and also a shorter total time of attempts per patient compared with the control group (186.16 vs. 497.23 seconds; p = 0.014). Conclusion: The use of a near-infrared light vein-viewing device for vascular access in critically ill children can decrease the total medical time and cost.