Functional Duration of Peripheral Intravenous Cannula in Neonates Admitted to NICU with or without Splint: Observational Study

Abstract

Background: Peripheral intravenous (IV) cannulation is a routine but challenging procedure in neonates due to their fragile veins. While splinting is often used to stabilize the cannula, its impact on functional duration and associated complications remains uncertain.Objective: This study aimed to compare the functional duration and adverse effects of IV cannulas with and without splinting in neonates admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted on 108 neonates (≥1500g, ≥28 weeks gestational age) admitted to the NICU at Adichunchanagiri Institute of Medical Sciences.Neonates were randomly assigned to splint and non-splint groups. The time of cannula insertion and removal, along with adverse reactions, were recorded. Data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel, and statistical significance was determined using the chi-square test (p<0.05).Results: The mean functional duration of IV cannulas was significantly longer in the non-splint group (29.9 ± 4.6 hours) compared to the splint group (24.5 ± 4.6 hours) (p<0.05). Additionally, adverse reactions were more frequent in the splint group, with a statistically significant difference. Conclusion: Non-splinting of IV cannulas was associated with a longer functional duration and fewer complications compared to splinting. These findings suggest that avoiding splinting may reduce the need for repeated cannulation and lower the risk of adverse reactions in neonates. However, further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm these results.