Vascular access management is the comprehensive category of products, solutions and services providing a continuum of vascular access care, from patient assessment to device removal, designed to reduce vascular-related complications.
Every vascular access patient's journey is unique and full of variables:
Intravenous therapy is so common that it may be easy to forget there is potential for harm. Complications may arise when placing a vascular access device, ranging from infectious and thrombolitic, to mechanical and more. These complications are a major cause of vascular access device premature failure. By better understanding the potential for risk, you can be better prepared to protect patients from IV complications.
A catheter-related bloodstream infection (CR-BSI) is when the catheter is identified as the source of the infection.2* Signs and symptoms to look for include erythema; edema; any pain or tenderness or drainage and/or fever.2** There are extraluminal and intraluminal areas that could be potential spots for contamination, leading to CR-BSIs from risk of breaking asepsis during insertion or care and maintenance; seeding bacteria from another site of infection; and ingress of bacteria due to non-intact dressing or suboptimal insertion site.3*
2*. Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice. J Infus Nurs. 2021; 44(1S): S204.
2**. Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice. J Infus Nurs. 2021; 44(1S): S154.
3*. Safdar N, Maki DG. Int Care Med. 2004; 30(1): 65.
When a catheter is blocked, this can either prevent infusion or injection of solution into a catheter, aspirate blood from a catheter, or both.2* Signs and symptoms to look out for include sluggish flow and/or blood return, inability to withdraw blood, flush and/or infuse through the catheter, frequent occlusion alarms on an electronic infusion device, and infiltration or extravasation or swelling and/or leaking at the infusion site.2** Occlusions may be caused by multiple factors, including allowing an infusion to run dry, improper flushing, infusing incompatible medications, or employing an improper clamping sequence.2**
2*. Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice. J Infus Nurs. 2021; 44(1S): S210.
2**. Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice. J Infus Nurs. 2021; 44(1S): S150.
Catheter movement into or out of the insertion site indicating tip movement to a suboptimal position.2* Signs and symptoms include the inability to continue infusion, increased external catheter length since previous assessment and leakage at insertion site. Additionally, if the catheter moves out of the vein but not the skin, it can result in edema, pain, changes in skin color and even progress to blistering and ulceration.2** Risk factors to consider include poor site selection, loosening of the catheter due to inadequate stabilisation and lack of proper securement, as well as patient manipulation such as arm or body movement.2†
2*. Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice. J Infus Nurs. 2021; 44(1S): S204.
2**. Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice. J Infus Nurs. 2021; 44(1S): S143.
2†. Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice. J Infus Nurs. 2021; 44(1S): S165.
Inflammation of a vein2* could be evident by pain and tenderness, erythema, warmth, swelling and redness at the catheter site.2** There are multiple chemical, mechanical and bacterial issues that could be the cause. These include use of irritating solutions, not allowing skin antisepsis to dry, inadequate hemodilution, improper catheter size or stabilisation techniques, breaks in aseptic technique or non-occlusive dressing.2**
2*. Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice. J Infus Nurs. 2021; 44(1S): S211.
2**. Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice. J Infus Nurs. 2021; 44(1S): S138.
Infiltration occurs when a nonvesicant solution or medication is inadvertently administered into tissue surrounding the catheter site, whereas extravasation occurs when the solution or medication is vesicant.2* When this occurs, the patient may suffer from edema, pain, changes in skin color and fluid leakage from the catheter insertion site, additionally extravasation may progress to blistering and ulceration.2** A myriad of issues may cause infiltration or extravasation, including inappropriate insertion site, inadequate stabilisation, difficult access history, medications that alter pain sensation, disease that produces change in vasculature, use of deep veins with insufficient catheter length, and the inability of the patient to report their symptoms.2†
2*. Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice. J Infus Nurs. 2021; 44(1S): S206, S207.
2**. Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice. J Infus Nurs. 2021; 44(1S): S143.
2†. Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice. J Infus Nurs. 2021; 44(1S): S142.
Calculate the potential costs of complications
On average, Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infections (CR-BSIs) cost £9602 per patient occurrence4*. Unnecessary peripherally inserted venous catheter (PIVC) restarts can cost a 200-bed hospital more than £850,784† (£980,000) annually.1
Calculate the cost of CLABSIs in your facility:
Calculate the cost of PIVC restarts in your facility*:
As a clinician, you’re often tasked to perform one of the most common invasive procedures—placing a vascular access device. With the right training and knowledge, you may potentially reduce vascular access complications and improve patient outcomes. And we’re here to help, every step of the way.
SELECT the right vascular access device
Vascular access is an integral component of many patients care management plans.6 Vascular access has the potential to greatly improve a patient’s wellbeing; however, it also poses inherent risks.6,7 To minimise these risks it is critical to ensure that Healthcare Professionals (HCP) choose the most appropriate vascular access device (VAD) for the patient and their individual needs.6,8
At BD, we developed digital tools to help healthcare professionals (HCPs) select the optimal vascular access device based on the therapy and drug(s)/regimen, but also considering specific patient elements such as medical history, lifestyle and co-morbidities.
By digitising the device selection process we aim to provide a platform to engage with HCPs to help identify not only the most optimal clinically suitable VAD option, but the most appropriate choice for the individual patient.8
Contact us to walk you through the process of identifying the best solutions to meet your patients' vascular access needs.
PREPARE the skin
Perform skin antisepsis with correct aseptic procedures to help ensure a sterile environment. Using the single-use sterile applicator containing an antiseptic agent of alcohol-based chlorhexidine solution.2*
2*. Infusion Nurses Society. Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice. J Infus Nurs. 2021; 44(1S): S96.
Let us help identify potential gaps to improve clinical practice in your facility >>
PLACE the catheter
Place the catheter successfully for first stick success and correct tip positioning. Using guidance technologies such as ultrasound guidance, tip location systems (TLS)2* and tip confirmation systems (TCS).**
2*. Infusion Nurses Society. Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice. J Infus Nurs. 2021; 44(1S): S66.
**. The Sherlock 3CG Tip Confirmation System for placement of peripherally inserted central catheters | 5 Cost considerations. U.K. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/mtg24/chapter/5-Cost-considerations. Published 2015. Updated 30 May 2019. Accessed 13 Jan 2023.
Let us help identify potential gaps to improve clinical practice in your facility >>
SECURE the catheter
Stabilise and secure the catheter at the insertion site. Using adhesive-based engineered stabilisation devices (ESDs) may reduce the risk of complications, including infection and catheter dislodgement.2*
2*. Infusion Nurses Society. Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice. J Infus Nurs. 2021; 44(1S): S109.
Let us help identify potential gaps to improve clinical practice in your facility >>
CONNECT the catheter
Connect securely to deliver infusions to help ensure safe and consistent medication delivery. Use needle free connectors designed to help reduce the risk of infectious complications.
Let us help identify potential gaps to improve clinical practice in your facility >>
MAINTAIN the catheter
Help prevent IV complications by using appropriate vascular access practices and devices to care for and maintain intravenous lines for the duration of each patient's treatment:
2*. Infusion Nurses Society. Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice. J Infus Nurs. 2021; 44(1S): S113.
2**. Infusion Nurses Society. Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice. J Infus Nurs. 2021; 44(1S): S115.
Let us help identify potential gaps to improve clinical practice in your facility >>
Success in vascular access care and improving patient outcomes
requires strong collaborations.
You are a caregiver whose role is to provide patients with a positive experience and the best possible care.
| Your challenges | How BD can help |
|---|---|
| Staying up to date on current evidence-based practices in vascular access as healthcare continues to evolve rapidly. | Our extensive portfolio of vascuar access devices, paired with product training and education, can help you address the vascular access needs of all patients. |
| Finding targeted continuing education resources quickly that meet your developmental needs. | We partner with key opinion and clinical thought leaders to create and share webinars on the latest data and insights. |
| Changes in staff or frequent turnover can create variation and gaps between best practices and current practice. | Our customer assesment and recommendation programme may help reduce variation while providing visibility into discord between practice and policies. |
You are a clinical leader who is passionate about reducing risks of healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs) and improving overall quality of care.
| Your challenges | How BD can help |
|---|---|
| Addressing and reducing risks of HAIs in your facility while ensuring patient care is not being compromised due to lack of consistency of best practices. | Our vascular practice assesment and consulting programmes can improve visibility into gaps between policies and practice, which may be leading to vascular access complications. |
| Staying up to date on the latest technologies and best practices in preventing HAIs as science continues to evolve. | We offer the latest insights and evidence-based practices from key opinion leaders (KOLs) in our library of webinars and resources. |
| Changing staff and frequent clinician turnover can create variation in knowledge and expertise resulting in gaps in clinical practice. | Our on-demand training and education programs support development for clinicians at all levels and can help your facility sustain adherence to vascular access best practices. |
You are responsible for managing relationships with the vendor whose products help standardise practice and improve clinical outcomes while maintaining your hospital's economic goals.
| Your challenges | How BD can help |
|---|---|
| Acquiring information about the latest vascular access innovations that provide both financial efficiencies and improved patient outcomes. | We can provide insight into the financial and clinical implications of implementing new technologies with our library of data and resources. |
| Understanding key attributes of vascular access devices that provide both positive patient and economic outcomes. | Our extensive portfolio of vascular access products and evidence-based medico eco models can help you make informed decisions. |
| Finding and tracking gaps in vascular access clinical practice that may be negatively making an impact on patient experience and/or economic outcomes. | Our customer vascular assessment and consulting programme can improve visibility into gaps between policies and practice, which may be exposing your organisation to risk. |
First-of-its-kind randomised clinical trial outlines potential new standard-setting best practices for peripheral IV catheters (PIVCs)
March 30, 2022
Professor Olivier Mimoz, head of the emergency department at Hôpital Universitaire de Poitiers, France, and principal investigator of the CLEAN3 trial, summarises the results of the trial published in the Lancet Infectious Diseases. The trial showed that the use of the BD vascular care solution resulted in fewer PIVC failures compared with the standard group (34.8% vs. 47.5%. respectively) and extended the median time between catheter insertion and failure (50.4 hours vs 30.0 hours, respectively).
February 6, 2023
An overview brochure on how BD’s Vascular Access Management (VAM) approach allows us to work closely with clinicians to help reduce vascular access complications and improve patient safety and quality of care.
How much do you know about infusates and infusion complications? Multiple known complications can result from different medications that require consideration when selecting a vascular access device. We developed a guide to help you understand the medication before choosing a peripheral device.
Inconsistent and suboptimal practices, as well as a lack of standardisation in vascular access, can contribute to various complications. This brochure summarises different vascular access-related complications and shows how BD can help improve practices and standard of care in hospital setting.
A summary of the key clinical and in vitro studies supporting the use of BD peripheral intravenous catheters
An exciting discussion with healthcare experts who have authored or are closely involved with the INS Standards of Practice. This is an incredible opportunity to hear why standards are written the way they are, what guidelines are considered for inclusion, and what this means to your clinical practice, no matter where you are in the world.
September 15, 2021
Dr Cristina Nunes is the local coordinator for the “Programme for Prevention and Control of Infection and Antimicrobial Resistance” in Portugal. In this webinar, she discusses the impact of the first phase of infection prevention bundles on key vascular access procedures and how creating a culture of awareness is the catalyst for change.
March 8, 2022
Webinar on the Prevention of Peripheral Venous Catheter Failure with Dr. Miquel Pujol MD, PhD.
May 4, 2022
With our help, you may see improvements in clinical outcomes with BD products, such as reduction in blood exposure during insertion, increased average dwell time of peripheral IVs and decreased vascular access complications. Additionally, your facility could benefit from economic efficiencies with enhanced protocols and best practices.
You can't see how far you've come unless you know where you began. Our experienced clinical experts will perform a comprehensive assessment of clinical practice across your facility, leveraging proprietary digital tools, which will help in developing insightful data.
Once completed, we'll provide a detailed, actionable road map to help you standardise
and align best practice standards across the vascular access continuum.
Clinical practice assessment
a. Interviews
b. Direct observations
Action plan to improve where gaps are identified
Since we are a global leader in vascular access devices, you can be confident that the products you are using are engineered to the highest quality and safety standards, backed by years of development and healthcare use. Our goal is to help you provide the best possible care at every step in the vascular access continuum.
SELECT the right vascular access device
SECURE the catheter
Our clinical teams collaborate with your facility's leadership to develop curricula that addresses your unique BD product training needs, while supporting evidence-based policies and procedures. With a solid educational programme in place, you can maintain best practices, which leads to repeatability and sustainability for continuity.
