Cateterismo intravenoso em terapia intensiva neonatal e pediátrico: taxa de sucesso com tecnologia de infravermelho próximo

Abstract

Intravenous catheterization is an invasive procedure primarily performed by nursing professionals in their clinical practice. In children, due to clinical and biological factors, the difficulty in coping with pain and stress associated with puncture increases the risk of procedure failure. Thus, the use of vascular visualization technologies can facilitate the identification of the venous pathway and promote catheterization success, as well as reduce discomfort for the child and their family during the procedure. The objective of this research was to estimate the success rates of neonatal and pediatric intravenous catheterization using near-infrared vascular visualization technology and to analyze the factors associated with advanced stage. This was a quantitative, cross-sectional, analytical, long-term study conducted in a neonatal/pediatric intensive care unit of a general hospital in Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The convenience sample included neonates and children undergoing short peripheral or peripherally inserted central intravenous catheterization with imaging via nearinfrared vascular visualization. Data were collected using a structured instrument between February and August 2025, and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (Chi-square, Fisher's exact test, and Student's t-test). Ethical aspects of research involving human subjects were respected. There were 65 participants, with a mean age of 1.9 years. The overall success rate was 84.6%, with an average of 1.6 attempts per procedure. The use of a vascular viewer in selecting the associated vein had 100% success on the first attempt (p = 0.04; V = 0.35). Palpable veins showed a higher success rate (p = 0.03). Patients without successful puncture had a longer hospital stay (13.0 ± 10.8 days versus 7.2 ± 10.6 days; p = 0.02; d = 0.54). This study expands knowledge about the high success rates of intravenous catheter insertion using near-infrared vascular visualization technology in neonates and children admitted to intensive care, and about the factors associated with the stage of the disease, in order to support decision-making in pediatric nursing practice.