Evidence Library

Key Facts

• A single-center, randomized controlled trial was conducted at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA to evaluate the efficacy of the AccuVein AV300 device in improving first-time success rate of intravenous cannulation of anesthetized pediatric patients (n=146).
• This study revealed that patients with dark or medium skin color were 0.38 times less likely to have a successful first attempt than patients with light skin color.
• Patients with medium or dark skin color had a first IV attempt success rate of 57% for PIV catheter insertions, while fair skin color patients had a rate of 78%.
• The success rate for patients with dark or medium skin color was 57.1% (95% CI, 38.1–74.2%), which was 21% less than the success rate for those with light skin color (78%, 95% CI, 69.9–85.1%). This difference was statistically significant (P = 0.03).

Key Facts

• A prospective, randomized, open label trial in 150 consecutive obese patients who presented to the Emergency Department at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center and required an intravenous peripheral line.
• The primary aim of the study was to investigate the impact of using the AccuVein AV400 on first attempt success rates for peripheral vein cannulation in a sample of obese patients. A secondary aim was to evaluate the level of staff satisfaction with using the AccuVein AV400 and the usefulness of the device.
• Obesity was defined as BMI >30
• Results showed that people on whom AccuVein AV400 had been used were 3.5 times more likely to have a successful first stick, adjusting for BMI, “quality” of vein and skin color.

Key Facts

• Hartford Hospital (Hartford, CT) conducted a single-center clinical superiority design study to determine the impact of bundled practices including device insertions using vascular access specialty team (VAST) intravenous-trained nurses versus current practice.
• This study revealed the number one concern of patients is pain associated with how many times they will be stuck with a needle.
• Reducing the number of IV attempts and extending the functionality of a PIVC without complications are keys to reducing waste, improving, efficiency, and increasing patient satisfaction of services.

Key Facts

• A multicenter prospective study from France assessed methods, difficulties, and outcomes of venous access for venipuncture in consecutive patients. The impact of AccuVein (AV300) on vein localization, the number of venipuncture attempts and patient stress and pain was determined.
• Participants were patients at a hemophilia treatment center (n=450) with 36.7% deemed to have difficult venous access due to poor vein condition, young patient age, high BMI and difficulty finding veins.
• 21% reduction in pain during venipuncture was reported in the AccuVein group vs. control.
• 14% reduction in patient stress was reported during venipuncture in the AccuVein group vs. control.

Key Facts

AccuVein use for venipuncture and PIVC placement can enhance overall patient satisfaction.

• A single-center RCT sought to determine the effect of using a vein imaging device or fist clenching on the determination of an appropriate vein and successful catheter placement time in adult patients receiving chemotherapy
• Study participants: 135 patients receiving chemotherapy
• The overall patient satisfaction within the vein imaging group was 9.64/10 compared to 4.76/10 and 7.62/10 in the control and fist-clenching group, respectively (p=0.0001)

Key Facts

• A RCT was conducted in the operating room of Alexandria Main University Hospital in Egypt to investigate the effectiveness of USG vs. AV 400 for cannulation of great saphenous vein at the level of the medial malleoli in infants </= 12 months.
• First attempt success for the Ultrasound group was 48.70%, and 62% in the AccuVein Group (p=0.08)

Key Facts

• Authors designed a RCT in a pediatric clinic of a research and teaching hospital to determine the effects of using a vein visualization device on the success of the procedure.
• Children ages 3-18 years were randomized to a traditional cannulation group and an AccuVein cannulation group.
• Overall first-attempt success was found to be 91.7% in the AccuVein group and 47.4% in the control (p=0.001).
• In patients identified as “difficult PIV placement”, the first-attempt success with AccuVein was significantly higher at 85.7% compared with 14.3% in the control group (p=0.001).

Key Facts

• A prospective cohort study investigated the use of AccuVein technology and PPE interference during the COVID pandemic on 2 COVID isolation wards at Tongji Hospital in Wuhan, China.
• One unit served as a control, where PIVs were placed utilizing traditional methods and COVID PPE, and AccuVein was used on the second unit with the same COVID PPE.
• First attempt success in the AccuVein group was 91.94%, and only 76.67% in the control (p=0.02)

Key Facts

• Authors designed a RCT in a pediatric clinic of a research and teaching hospital to determine the effects of using a vein visualization device on the success of the procedure.
• Children ages 3-18 years were randomized to a traditional cannulation group and an AccuVein cannulation group.
• Time to cannulation with AccuVein took an average of 37.24 +/- 20.07s when compared to 172.65 +/- 153.2s in the standard technique (p=0.001).

Key Facts

• A RCT was conducted in the operating room of Alexandria Main University Hospital in Egypt to investigate the practicability of USG vs. AV 400 for cannulation of great saphenous vein at the level of the medial malleoli in infants </= 12 months.
• PIV cannulation time was significantly faster with AccuVein (25.1 +/- 17.8 seconds) compared to Ultrasound (41.4 +/- 24.9 seconds) (p<0.001)

Key Facts

• A single-center RCT sought to determine the effect of using a vein imaging device or fist clenching on the determination of an appropriate vein and successful catheter placement time in adult patients receiving chemotherapy
• Study participants: 135 patients receiving chemotherapy
• The time to determine appropriate veins was found to be 17.4 seconds in the near infrared (NIR) imaging group, 23.76 seconds in the fist-clenching group, and 29.67 seconds in the control group [p=0.001].

Key Facts

• A multicenter prospective study assessed methods, difficulties, and outcomes of venous access for venipuncture in consecutive patients. The impact of AccuVein (AV300) on vein localization, the number of venipuncture attempts and patient stress and pain was determined.
• Participants were patients at a hemophilia treatment center (n=450) with 36.7% (n=165) deemed to have difficult venous access due to poor vein condition, young patient age, high BMI and difficulty finding veins
• Difficult in locating veins was encountered in a significantly smaller percentage of difficult venous access (DVA) patients patients [p=0.002] when the NIR visualizer was used (76%) than not (92.3%).

Key Facts

• Adult inpatients on an 18-bed intermediate surgery care unit were studied to explore the use of US and vein visualization technology for SPC insertion (<3 inches).
• Nurses noted that “although patients had visible veins, vein visualization equipment assisted in ruling out veins with bifurcation we couldn’t see” and “very edematous patients were successful with vein visualization equipment”.

Key Facts

• Single center study, Shands Memorial Hospital (FL)
• A decrease in escalation calls of 45% was observed following AccuVein (AV400) implementation across various nursing units¹(adult med/surge, ICU, pediatric, intermediate care units)

Key Facts

• Authors compared the first-attempt success rate for the insertion of PIV catheters between those placed with and without the assistance of a NIR device for critically ill children in a PICU.
• The use of NIR technology demonstrated an overall cost savings of $3.52 per patient, including: reduction of $1.86 in material cost and reduction of $1.66 in personnel costs.
• In a 20 bed PICU, total cost for PIV insertion is $150; enable savings of $528.51 per month.

Key Facts

• Single center RCT in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in a research hospital, investigating neonates 32-37 weeks with no previous PIV
• Authors examined the efficacy of vein visualization devices and the routine method for insertion of PIVCs in preterm infants.
• Dwell time was identified to be 1.57 +/- 0.50 days with NIR, 1.27 +/- 0.45 days with transillumination and 1.27 +/- 0.45 days with control PIV placement (p=0.02).

Key Facts

• Avant Healthcare is a premier staffing specialist for registered nurses, physical therapists, and occupational therapists. Statistic taken from Avant Healthcare blog.
• Excerpt from a LinkedIn survey referenced in blog: “While some nurses oppose toward new technology, stating it takes personal interaction away from the bedside, a survey of 600 nurses shows that 82 percent believe that technology positively impacts patient care. For them, the new tools available in health systems help add time back into their day—and with nurse burnout increasing in the U.S.—it may help nurse retention.”

Key Facts

• Despite peripheral intravenous catheters insertion being a commonly performed skill, practicing nurses may receive little substantive education, training, or opportunities to practice this skill to achieve competency.
• Results from a 2013 Infusion Nurses Society IV Safety Practice survey (n=345) reported that 57% of nursing students or less receive any form of PIVC insertion instruction.
• Article describes the three major elements of a of PIVC insertion education: 1) a comprehensive, simulation-based curriculum to improve PIVC insertion knowledge, confidence, and skills of practicing nurses, 2) collaboration between industry and a teaching hospital to modify and implement continuing education curriculum and 3) evaluation of the curriculum and collaboration by nurses and members of both organizations involved.

Key Facts

• Single center survey designed to understand the deficiencies in PIVC education and practice.
• Survey Aim: Prove hypothesis that targeted education initiative with AccuVein team can improve knowledge about PIV access and the role of vein visualization in PIVC placement protocols
• N=49 nurses surveyed
• Result: (1) NYCH instituted a policy of utilizing AccuVein as the first line of access to improve Patient Satisfaction and Staff Safety, (2) AccuVein aided in choosing and gaining access to optimal veins large enough to satisfy longer term IV therapy; (3)Improved the first stick success

Key Facts

• A single-center RCT sought to determine the effect of using a vein imaging device or fist clenching on the determination of an appropriate vein and successful catheter placement time in adult patients receiving chemotherapy
• Study cohort: 135 chemotherapy patients
• The overall nurse satisfaction within the vein imaging group was 9.78/10 compared to 2.38/10 and 6.16/10 in the control and fist-clenching group, respectively (p=0.0001).

Key Facts

• Authors sought to evaluate the effectiveness of three devices in facilitating peripheral IV cannulation in children (AV, VeinViewer, VascuLuminator) in an operating room at Wilhelmina Children’s, University Medical Center in the Netherlands.
• They studied pediatric patients from birth – 18 years (n=1913) presenting for elective surgery.
• AccuVein was rated as valuable by 60.9% (45.4-74.9%) of inserters including CRNAs, anesthesiologist, resident physicians, and student nurse anesthetist.

Key Facts

• This descriptive study explored the use of ultrasound and AccuVein vein visualization technology for short peripheral catheter insertion ( < 3 inches) among a general patient population on a step-down unit. Two types of equipment were compared with traditional methods (i.e., current unit practice) in terms of insertion success rates and the amount of time that was required. Nurses were encouraged to record comments about their experiences using the equipment.
• Nurses reported that they were more knowledgeable and justified in requesting a VAT consult when they were armed with the equipment-aided results. Patient care and interdisciplinary communication were enhanced as nurses described how they used the data to inform clinical decision making.
• Nurses also reported how vein visualization equipment can facilitate assessment, enable nurses to proactively address patients’ unique needs, individualize care, and promote the responsible use of VAT services and personnel.