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Neonatal/Pediatric Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurse, Diamond Childrens Medical Center at the University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
The University of Arizona, College of Nursing, Tucson, AZ
Diamond Children's Medical Center at The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
a r t i c l e
i n f o
Keywords:
Neonatal
Inltration
Extravasation
Vesicant
Peripheral intravenous (PIV) therapy
Algorithm
a b s t r a c t
The peripheral intravenous (PIV) catheter is the most used vascular access device for the administration of
medications in hospitalized neonates, however 95% of PIV catheters are removed due to complications.
Inltration and extravasation are one of the most destructive complications to the neonate's fragile skin. This
article reviews multiple aspects of inltration and extravasation injury. First, starting at the cellular level the
role of vesicants in vascular injury and its role triggering inammation will be discussed, followed by a
comprehensive review of vesicants and their mechanism of injury, by pH, osmolality or chemical composition,
then an overview of the NICU nurses knowledge and actions to prevent inltration and ending with the use of
an evidence-based algorithm that was developed at one children's hospital to minimize injury caused by
extravasations through targeted, prompt treatment.
2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
nal structures as additional uid collects around the vein, and in severe
cases can result in compartment syndrome.6 Extravasations have the
potential to cause peripheral tissue injury depending on the type of
vesicant, concentration of the vesicant, location, amount, and duration of
exposure to the vesicant. Damage from a vesicant may progress over
time and become evident 4872 hours after the extravasation occurs.7,8
Neonatal Vulnerability to Vascular Injury
The preterm and sick neonate is more susceptible to skin injury
and complications from extravasation injury than their mature,
healthy counterparts. Their immature skin structures, exible subcutaneous tissue, small blood vessels and poor venous integrity increase
the risk of complication from venipuncture and IV infusions. 5,8 The
goal in neonatal care is to prevent skin breakdown whenever possible.
Similarly, attention to thermoregulation, pain and stress that infants
endure as a result of repeated IV attempts or restarts, and inltrations
and extravasations must be considered and managed. 9,10 Multiple
tools are available to score pain responses and enable the NICU
(neonatal intensive care unit) nurses to manage this appropriately.
Nonpharmacologic measures to decrease pain include the use of a
pacier, swaddling, or administration of sucrose during the insertion
of an IV or for inltration and extravasation injury. 10 Aside from nonpharmacologic interventions, treating inltration and extravasation
pain with analgesics should be considered. 8
Inammation in the Premature Infant
The neonatal immune system is poorly regulated compared to
adults and dysregulation is magnied when neonates are born
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of the infusate damages the lining of the vein and allows transmission
of the infusate into the tissue, without creating a puncture in the
vein. 4 These three theories demonstrate how inltration and
extravasation can occur; the remainder of the damage is thought to
be caused by the irritants and vesicants.
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Table 1
Medication Mechanisms of Vascular Injury.
Inciting Agent
Vesicants
(phenylephrine)
Irritants
Hypo-osmolar
Hyperosmolar
(N10% dextrose,
mannitol,
potassium, propofol
and sodium
bicarbonate)
Alkalotic Medication
Vasoactive
Medication
Highly-Lipophilic
Medications
Denition
Medications capable
of causing tissue
damage9
e.g. Calcium
stimulates smooth
muscle to contract
capillaries, leading
to hypo-perfusion
and ischemic injury
Osmolarity
b280 mOsm
causing cells to
swell as uid shifts
into the cell. As the
intracellular volume
exceeds its capacity,
cells can lyse.
Osmolarity
N280 mOsm,
causing cells to
shrink as uid shifts
outside of the cell
High concentration
of hydrogen ions
(high pH) causes
inammation and
can lead to vascular
injury
Alpha-receptor
stimulation
constricts capillary
beds, decreases local
blood ow and
deprives local tissue
of oxygen leading to
ischemic injury5
Medications do not
dilute well in water,
making it difcult to
ush out or wash
off, damage results
from the high
concentration of the
medication in the
tissue
Medication
Examples
Acyclovir
Aminophylline
Calcium Chloride
Dobutamine
Dopamine
Epinephrine
Nafcillin
Norepinephrine
Oxacillin
Penicillin
Phenytoin,
Potassium Salts
Total parenteral
nutrition (TPN)
Peripheral
parenteral nutrition
(PPN)
Vancomycin3
Aminophylline
Calcium Gluconate
Digoxin,
Erythromycin,
Gentamicin,
Theophylline3
0.2 % NaCl
Sterile water5
3% sodium chloride
Calcium chloride
Contrast media
Total parenteral
nutrition5
Sodium Bicarbonate
Phenobarbital
Sodium thiopental
Phenytoin
Dobutamine
Epinephrine
Norepinephrine
Vasopressin
Diazepam
Digoxin
Nitroglycerine
Phenytoin
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Table 2
Recommendations for Practice to Prevent Vascular Injury.
Peripheral IV Insertion and Maintenance
Use small enough plastic/silicone catheter to avoid restriction of blood ow
Avoid repeated use of a vein
Avoid placing a PIV in an areas difcult to immobilize
Use transparent tape to secure
Cover the site with a sterile semi-permeable transparent dressing that will permit
ongoing visualization of the insertion site
Upper extremities less likely to inltrate or leak compared with peripheral IV in
lower extremities or scalp veins
Place tape loosely over boney prominences to avoid restricting blood ow to the
extremity
Infusion Maintenance
Limit PIV glucose to 12.5%
Dilute medications as much as possible before administration are other solutions
to preventing extravasation
PIV= peripheral intravenous.
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Fig 2. Diamond Childrens IV Inltration and Extravasation Algorithm (adapted from Sawatzky-Dickson and colleagues, [2006]). LIP = Licensed Independent Practitioner, MD =
Medical Doctor, WOCN =Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurse.
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and atraumatic for the neonate with minor skin breakdown or in the
neonate with full thickness wounds requiring wound care for weeks.
Hydrogel dressings are one of the moist wound healing treatments
that have been found to be evidence-based and safe for neonates of all
gestations. 8,9 Hydrogels consist of 8090% water, which can be
soothing and gentle to skin and keeps the wound moist to facilitate
auto-debridement of wounds by rehydrating sloughing tissue and
enhancing the rate of autolysis. 8 A section of hydrogel sheet cut to
cover the wound and secured with transparent dressing reduces
dressing changes to every 3 days, resulting in decreased handling and
discomfort of the neonate, and less trauma to regenerated tissue, as
well as protects the tissue from outside oxygen tension and provides a
lower pH, which inhibits the growth of pathogens. 2,3 Full thickness
injury may require surgical debridement and skin grafting, by a
pediatric or plastic surgeon. 8 Adhesive silicone foam can be used for
shallow wounds that may only require a small daily application of
amorphous gel to maintain moisture to the site. The moisture of
hydrogels at times can macerate the periwound, in infants greater
than 30 days; an alcohol free skin barrier can be applied to protect the
fragile skin surrounding the wound. 8
Phentolamine
Conclusions
References
195