Reducing Peripheral Intravenous Catheter Extravasation in Neonates: A Quality Improvement Project.

PURPOSE: Our objective was to reduce total and severe peripheral intravenous extravasation (PIVE) incidence by 40% in our neonatal intensive care unit. SETTING/APPROACH: This quality improvement initiative was performed at an academic, free-standing suburban children's hospital, in a level 4 neonatal intensive care unit from June 2017 to April 2018. Baseline extravasation data for a period of 6 months prior to the initiative were reviewed, along with a nursing knowledge questionnaire and random audits of catheter stabilization techniques. A Pareto chart and a key driver diagram were created to identify the most common causes of extravasations and lead to a series of process changes. We implemented 4 Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles: (1) dressing protocol for peripheral intravenous vascular (PIV) catheter securement that instituted standardized securement and safer equipment; (2) education on PIV assessment and maintenance, concentrating on hourly evaluation and documentation; (3) guidance algorithm for PIVE identification and treatment; and (4) escalation policy, limiting the number of placement attempts and increased use of a "superuser" team. OUTCOMES: The overall prevalence of extravasations decreased by 54%, from 73 preintervention to 40 at postintervention. At baseline, 52% (38/73) extravasations were severe; however, those in the severe category decreased by 35% (14/40) postintervention. The overall rate of adherence to the PIV catheter management algorithm approached 95%; whereas adherence to the securement guideline fluctuated between 80% and 98%. IMPLICATION FOR PRACTICE: The implementation of these new practice recommendations along with the education has resulted in a decreased rate and severity of extravasation. Frequent audits and reinforcements are integral to sustainment and to ensure accountability for the implemented procedures.

Point-of-Care Ultrasound Use in Neonatal Peripheral Intravenous Extravasation Injuries: A Case Series.

PURPOSE: The primary aim of this study was to examine and describe peripheral intravenous extravasation (PIVE) injuries using point-of-care ultrasound (POC-US). A secondary aim was to define skin tissue changes before and after hyaluronidase application using POC-US. DESIGN: Case series design. SUBJECTS AND SETTING: We report on 10 neonates with stage 3 or 4 PIVE who were studied clinically and with POC-US. All infants were studied during the December 2015 to September 2016 period in a large academic neonatal intensive care unit. METHODS: Initially, neonates with PIVE were staged using 3 criteria: physical findings, nature of the infusate, and the size of the injury. Next, we described different ultrasound appearances of the tissue injury in PIVE based on the type of the infusate (clear fluid, blood, or both). We then located the largest PIVE pocket and measured the skin elevation over it. Skin elevation ratio was measured at 3 time points: before hyaluronidase injection followed by 3 to 6 hours and 24 hours after hyaluronidase therapy. Each ultrasound examination of the skin injury was staged (severe, moderate, mild, or minimal) based on the skin elevation ratio obtained. In addition, we described changes in the skin using ultrasound before and after hyaluronidase treatment. RESULTS: Three types of ultrasound images based on the type of the extravasated fluid were described in detail. Based on the initial ultrasound measurements of the skin elevation ratio, 6 infants were staged with severe PIVE and 4 were staged as moderate PIVE. Finally, POC-US was used to describe the tissue changes before and after hyaluronidase injection. CONCLUSIONS: Point-of-care ultrasound may offer more structured and objective staging of PIVE injuries due to direct visualization of the skin tissue. This method needs to be further studied and introduced as a practical tool to complement physical examination of PIVE injuries.

Efficacy of Dehydrated Human Amniotic Membrane Allograft for the Treatment of Severe Extravasation Injuries in Preterm Neonates.

INTRODUCTION: A peripheral intravenous (PIV) catheter is placed in 60% to 70% of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) infants. Extravasation injuries occur in 18% to 33%, with 70% in neonates < 27 weeks of gestational age. Despite such frequent use of PIV therapy, evidence on best practice, injury prevention, management, and treatment of extravasations is lacking. OBJECTIVE: This case series of 4 neonatal patients describes the experience and efficacy of using a dehydrated human amniotic membrane allograft (dHAMA) in the treatment of severe extravasation injuries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The 4 preterm, critically ill neonates, all with stage 4 extravasations, were treated with 1 to 2 applications of the dHAMA to facilitate the repair process. Prior to treatments, standard of care included either enzymatic (collagenase ointment) or autolytic debridement (active Leptospermum honey) followed by mechanical debridement prior to allograft placement. RESULTS: The 4 full-thickness wounds exhibited recalcitrant healing. The dHAMA invigorated the wounds after standard management failed to induce repair. Application was easy and follow-up care was minimal. All wounds healed without contractures and with minimal soft scars and normal pigmentation at the 1- to 2-month follow-up visits. CONCLUSIONS: The dHAMA proved to be an effective, safe, and easy-to-apply treatment in this case series, leading to regeneration and healing of deep neonatal wounds associated with extravasations.

Point-Of-Care Ultrasound as an Adjunct in the Diagnosis of Neonatal and Pediatric Superficial Soft Tissue Infection: A Report of Two Cases.

Considerable technological advances, good safety profile, and ease of use have converged to support the use of ultrasound (US) as an important adjunct in the evaluation of superficial soft tissue infections (SSTI) in general and the differential diagnosis of cellulitis and abscess in particular. However, its use in neonatal populations has not been described. Pediatric studies report clinical examination is not always a reliable method of distinguishing cellulitis from abscess. Two (2) case reports are presented to supplement the growing body of published data that describe US imaging of SSTIs. In both cases, the US exam included the affected area as well as contralateral or adjacent normal skin for comparison. Case 1 describes a preterm infant boy who required placement of a peripheral intravenous (PIV) line and subsequently developed warm, painful, erythematous, and indurated skin in the area of the insertion. Point-of-care US (POC-US) was used to diagnose cellulitis, which initiated treatment with intravenous antibiotics. Case 2 involves a 7-year-old boy with multiple comorbidities who developed a PIV extravasation-related injury that subsequently progressed to cellulitis, likely secondary to wound infection with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Both patients healed completely and without any complications. Because treatment of cellulitis is different from that of abscess, it is important to obtain real-time data supportive of an accurate diagnosis. In these cases, POC-US confirmed the clinical diagnosis of cellulitis and ruled out the presence of an abscess.