Near Infrared Light in Paediatric Blood Drawing Centre

Reaching a peripheral venous access or making a blood sample in a scared infant or toddler can be challenging even for experienced nurses o pediatricians. Up to 60% of children report pain and distress during venipuncture and multiple attempts can result in more difficult physical and emotional conditions for subsequent insertions so that the procedure should be performed with the less number of punctures as possible. In about one third of children, more than one attempt is required to achieve peripheral intravenous cannulation. In the last years, specific tools have been developed to enhance the success in venipuncture or incannulation. Near-infrared (NIR) technology consists on light-emitting diodes placed underneath the hand, that makes vessels visible by projecting the processed image in a green light directly on to the puncture site. According to previous studies, NIR had shown a trend in reduction of time employed for a blood sample, in children younger of 6 yr.

The aim of this trial is to investigate if the use of the VeinViewer® in a pediatric blood drawing center could decrease time spent to perform the procedure and improve the rate of first attempt success.