The Effect of Near-infrared Spectroscopy on the Success of Peripheral Venous Access

Providing venous access in pediatric anesthesia and intensive care is among the basic and necessary interventions for blood sampling and administration of drugs and possibly transfusion products and derivatives.

In anesthesia, effective provision of venous access is a prerequisite for safe anesthesia. In pediatric patients and newborns, provision of venous access is complicated by patient non-cooperation, but primarily by the smaller diameter of the vessels and often limited possibility of direct visualization, or limited possibility of palpation of the vessel under visual control. Ultrasound is currently used to facilitate provision of IV access, however, imaging under the USG probe and its subsequent puncture requires high skill of medical personnel and is preferentially applied by medical staff in the conditions of the Czech Republic. Near-infrared imaging (IR) allows direct visualization of superficial vascular bed and may potentially be associated with higher puncture success rates (higher first attempt success, reduction of total attempts).

Inclusion criteria

• Pediatric patients admitted to the inpatient section of the Department of Pediatric Anesthesiology and Resuscitation, Brno University Hospital
• Pediatric patients in the anesthesia section of the Department of Pediatric Anesthesiology and Resuscitation, Brno University Hospital
• Indicated insertion of peripheral venous access
• Consent of the patient/legal representative to the study

Exclusion criteria

• Disagreement with the study
• Not indicated insertion of peripheral venous access (according to clinical condition and decision of the attending physician)
• A device for near-infrared imaging of the venous bed is not available