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Vein visualization: patient characteristic factors and efficacy of a new infrared vein finder technology

2013; Elsevier BV; Volume: 110; Issue: 6 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1093/bja/aet003

1471-6771

Franklin Chiao, Francesco Resta-Flarer, Juan Carlos Cisneros Lesser, John Ng, A. Ganz, D. Pino-Luey, Henry L. Bennett, C. Perkins, B. Witek,

Pressure Ulcer Prevention and Management

Background We investigated the patient characteristic factors that correlate with identification of i.v. cannulation sites with normal eyesight. We evaluated a new infrared vein finding (VF) technology device in identifying i.v. cannulation sites. Methods Each subject underwent two observations: one using the conventional method (CM) of normal, unassisted eyesight and the other with the infrared VF device, VueTek's Veinsite™ (VF). A power analysis for moderate effect size ( β =0.95) required 54 samples for within-subject differences. Results Patient characteristic profiles were obtained from 384 subjects (768 observations). Our sample population exhibited an overall average of 5.8 [95% confidence interval (CI) 5.4–6.2] veins using CM. As a whole, CM vein visualization were less effective among obese [4.5 (95% CI 3.8–5.3)], African-American [4.6 (95% CI 3.6–5.5 veins)], and Asian [5.1 (95% CI 4.1–6.0)] subjects. Next, the VF technology identified an average of 9.1 (95% CI 8.6–9.5) possible cannulation sites compared with CM [average of 5.8 (95% CI 5.4–6.2)]. Seventy-six obese subjects had an average of 4.5 (95% CI 3.8–5.3) and 8.2 (95% CI 7.4–9.1) veins viewable by CM and VF, respectively. In dark skin subjects, 9.1 (95% CI 8.3–9.9) veins were visible by VF compared with 5.4 (95% CI 4.8–6.0) with CM. Conclusions African-American or Asian ethnicity, and obesity were associated with decreased vein visibility. The visibility of veins eligible for cannulation increased for all subgroups using a new infrared device.