None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The insertion of peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVC) or cannulas for intravenous treatment and venepuncture for blood sampling are common in modern health care. However, difficulty in obtaining successful access is common and patients may undergo repeated attempts. This difficulty results in high costs for health care organisations and distress for patients (Sharp et al. 2014; Robinson Reilly 2015). Successful attempts may be influenced by both the size and the depth of the vein (Witting 2010; Kimori 2016). Clinicians often apply heat to the area and encourage fluid intake to increase vein diameter and make veins more superficial so as to improve venepuncture success (Fink 2009). However, these interventions are based on limited evidence. Existing research about the effect of hydration on the size of veins used for venepuncture and PIVC insertion is scant. No existing research could be identified that has investigated the effect of heat or hydration on the distance of the vein from skin surface. Hypotheses: - Heat and hydration will increase vein diameter - Heat and hydration will decrease vein depth
Interventions
A three arm parallel randomised controlled trial will be undertaken to determine the effect of hydration and heat on vein diameter and distance of vein from skin surface. 39 participants (13 each group) will be recruited from staff and students of the University of South Australia. Participants will be invited to register their interest by emailing the researchers. Once registered, participants will be emailed an information sheet and consent form. The participants will be asked to email a signe
A three arm parallel randomised controlled trial will be undertaken to determine the effect of hydration and heat on vein diameter and distance of vein from skin surface. 39 participants (13 each group) will be recruited from staff and students of the University of South Australia. Participants will be invited to register their interest by emailing the researchers. Once registered, participants will be emailed an information sheet and consent form. The participants will be asked to email a signed consent form to the researchers prior to study commencement. Registration details will be entered into a spreadsheet and used to randomise participants to one of three groups control, heat or hydration. This will be an unblinded RCT due to the nature of the interventions. All participants will be asked to fast (food and fluid) from 2400 the previous night to when the measurements occur. The researchers will undertake baseline measurement vein measurements using a portable ultrasound early the next day. Two veins on the left arm commonly used for venepuncture and PIVC insertion will be identified using ultrasound. A mark will be applied to the measurement site with nonpermanent pen. Both the diameter and depth of these veins will be determined using the inbuilt callipers of a portable SonoSite SSeries ultrasound machine. Participants will be given a short questionnaire to determine age, BMI, gender, medical history (diagnosed by medical practitioner) tobacco and medication use. Additionally, level of physical activity will be measured (Godin LeisureTime Exercise Questionnaire). Participants allocated to the fluid arm will be given 1 litre of room bottled water temperature (approx. 22 degrees Celsius) and asked to consume this over 30 minutes. Those in the arm receiving heat intervention will have a wheat bag (warmed in a domestic microwave on high power for 2 minutes) applied directly over the veins of interest in the cubital fossa/forearm area for 15 minutes. Participants in the heat arm will have the second vein measurement after 15 minutes of heat application. The fluid and control group will have the second measurements undertaken 1 hour after the baseline measurements.
Sponsors
Dr Rebecca Sharp
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Staff and students at the University of South Australia City East campus will be invited to take part.
Exclusion criteria
Pregnant women, insulin dependent diabetics and participants who have any other serious health conditions that may be effected by fasting will be excluded.
Outcome results
None listed