ABSTRACT
Aim: To investigate the association between intravenous therapy and the incidence of non-elective removal of silicone single-lumen catheters installed in newborns. Method: this was a prospective cohort study, conducted in a neonatal intensive care unit of a private hospital of São Paulo. The sample was composed of 97 epicutaneous catheters, 15 of them used for single intravenous therapy and 82 indicated for multiple intravenous therapy. Results: The incidence of non-elective removal was 26.7% in single infusate catheters and 36.5% in multiple intravenous infusion catheters, with no statistically significant difference being noted (p = 0.33). Complications such as limb edema and extravasation occurred only in multiple IV infusion catheters. Conclusion: We recommend the adoption of strategies for prevention, early detection and prompt treatment of complications that result in non-elective removal of epicutaneous catheters, regardless the intravenous therapy type...