Reduction of Mechanical IV Complication Using a New Medical Device

It is estimated that around 1.5 billion peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVC) are sold every year globally, and placing them is one of the most common invasive procedures in hospitalised patients, with up to 90% receiving one, yet there is a failure rate of up to 69%. Some of the most common causes of failure are considered to be phlebitis, subcutaneous infiltration, occlusion and dislodgement. These failure rates vary widely, where published data suggests rates of 8-44% for phlebitis, 5-21% for infiltration, 7.6-16% for occlusion and 5-10% for dislodgement. Phlebitis, commonly defined as an inflammatory process in the wall of a vein, resulting in a blood clot formation; while infiltration is defined as the inadvertent leakage of a solution into the surrounding tissue; occlusion is defined as PIVC failure due to blockage where flushing and/or aspiration is not possible, and dislodgement the complete accidental/inadvertent removal of the PIVC before intended. Previous studies have suggested that mechanical irritation could be an important factor resulting in PIVC failure. In the case of phlebitis, mechanical movements against the endothelial wall could initiate a cascade of prothrombotic events resulting in the formation of a blood clot, something that has been demonstrated in a simulated environment.

Therefore, there is a need to investigate potential new methods for prevention of these mechanical complications, and one way could be in the reduction of mechanical forces acting on the vessels. The aim of this study is to investigate the safety and effectiveness of a new medical device in reducing the number of mechanical complications during IV therapy.

The investigators have divided the research questions into a primary endpoint and secondary endpoints.

1. Primary endpoint: The rate of mechanical complications of an IV therapy session using a new medical device (ReLink) compared to using current 'state of the art'.
2. Secondary endpoint:

• Frequency and severity of any adverse events
• Healthcare workers opinion of the new medical device
• The economic cost of these disruptions to the hospital or healthcare facility in terms of man-hours, and resources

The study is a randomized controlled trial to be run at Uppsala University Hospital. Patients will be randomly assigned to either the experimental group receiving IV infusion treatment using the new medical device ReLink, or the control group receiving IV infusion treatment without the device. Once the full intended IV infusion treatment has been completed, the same patient may be re-randomized and re-included in the trial. In case there is a mechanical complication resulting in the exchange of peripheral catheter, the patient will be re-randomized to either the control or intervention group. The risk of introducing a bias by re-randomizing the patients has been analysed and is considered to be minor. Firstly, in case of a re-randomization, this will take place after the follow-up of a peripheral catheter is completed. Secondly, re-randomization has been chosen instead of a cross-over design (where a patient's second peripheral catheter would automatically be selected to the other group) to avoid a spill-over effect from the patient themselves being biased against or in favour of using the device.