Evaluating the Role of the Guidewire in Peripheral Intravenous Access: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Ultrasound-Guided Catheter Survival

This is a prospective, parallel, non-blinded, two-arm randomized controlled trial of intravenous catheter failure evaluating the impact of a built-in guide wire. The objective of this study is to demonstrate that the control ultralong intravenous catheter (IV) without the guide wire is non-inferior to the experimental catheter with the guide wire. After obtaining consent, eligible patients will be randomly allocated to control Arm 1 (ultralong intravenous catheter) or experimental Arm 2 (ultralong intravenous catheter with guide wire) in a ratio of 1:1 via a computer-generated randomization schedule. The participants will be followed to collect data until the catheter is removed.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Peripheral Intravenous Vein Catheter Phlebitis; Intravenous Infection
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: B. Braun 6.35cm 20 gauge ultralong intravenous catheter; Device: BD 5.71 cm 20 gauge Accucath

Detailed Description

This is a prospective, parallel, non-blinded, two-arm randomized (like the flip of a coin) controlled trial of catheter failure evaluating the impact of a built-in guide wire. This study plans to enroll 360 participants (two equally sized groups of 180 participants in each arm). Screening data will be reviewed to determine participant eligibility. Participants who meet all inclusion criteria and none of the exclusion criteria will be entered into the study. After study participant enrollment, the clinician participant is engaged to perform the procedure. Randomization will occur and placement of the IV will be placed by clinicians who are proficient in ultrasound guided vascular access. Data regarding placement, technique and clinician experience will be collected at the time the IV is placed.

A catheter is functional if the clinician participant is able to aspirate blood and/or flush without resistance with 3-5 milliliters (mL) of saline. Other insertion-related data variables collected at the time of insertion or retrospectively, include: clinician participant details, number of insertion attempts, patient pertinent medical history specifically assessing for history of difficult access on a previous visit, End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) on dialysis, IV drug abuse, sickle cell disease, vitals, age, sex, race, body mass index, first-stick success, cannulation success or failure, vein diameter, vein depth, number of venous access attempts, time of IV insertion, location of IV insertion, and distance of IV insertion (skin puncture site) from the crease of the arm. A venous access attempt is defined as each time the needle punctures the skin. Movement or adjustment in subcutaneous tissue is not considered an additional attempt unless the needle is completely withdrawn and reinserted.

Once the IV is placed, follow-ups will be completed beginning the day after enrollment. Assessments will be conducted in person and/or by communication with the clinical team nurse to assess functionality, status of IV dressing/dressing changes, and signs/symptoms of complications. Assessment for complications includes normal appearance, pain, redness, swelling, induration, appearance of a palpable venous cord at or near IV site. This data will then be used by the clinical research nurse or Principal Investigator to assess for phlebitis. Patients will be assessed for clinical phlebitis using a standardized scale (Table 1). This scale is scored from 0 to 5, 0 being no signs of phlebitis and 5 being advanced stage of thrombophlebitis.

Daily follow ups will be completed until the IV has been removed or has failed. If the catheter failed or was removed prior to the follow-up assessment, then the IV failure time and the assessment of failure and reason for line removal will be obtained through chart review or through discussion with the participant's care team. The options for cause of removal include: (1) completion of therapy (2) infiltration (3) infection (4) dislodgement (5) leaking (6) pain (7) other and (8) unknown. For all failed catheters, re-insertion attempt data will be tracked through the medical record in the nursing section for venous lines and need for reinsertion of the IV or escalation to a midline, peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC), or central venous catheter (CVC) will be noted. The time interval from removal of failed device to the insertion of a new device will be noted as the treatment delay interval recorded in hours.

Superficial thrombophlebitis (SVT) and deep venous thrombosis (DVT) rates will be calculated based on upper extremity proven diagnosis of SVT and/or DVT in symptomatic cases. Pulmonary embolism rates will also be captured based on computed tomography (CT) chest diagnosis or ventilation perfusion (V/Q) nuclear test result of high probability for pulmonary embolism. Key personnel approved by Institutional Review Board will review all study subject records in the electronic medical records system, and screen enrolled subject data for all upper extremity venous doppler test, chest CTs, and V/Q examinations. Radiology interpretations will be reviewed for findings consistent with catheter related upper extremity venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. Presence or absence of thrombosis will be noted. If the patient is diagnosed with thrombophlebitis, the location of the thrombus will also be documented. This review will account for thrombosis development up to 30 days post patient discharge. Symptoms and rationale for imaging will be documented. As long peripheral IVs are inserted into the deep veins of the arms at times, DVT is a known complication.

Infection rate will be tracked using confirmed catheter-related blood stream infection data from the surveillance team within the epidemiology department. The team utilizes the Centers for Disease Control definition of laboratory-confirmed blood-stream infection (LCBSI).

The medication administration record will be reviewed for anticoagulants and select irritant and vesicants given through each catheter. Vesicant drugs can result in tissue necrosis or formation of blisters when accidentally infused into tissue surrounding a vein. Vesicants that are generally given via central line or considered caustic to the vessel will be noted in both groups. Number of doses will be recorded.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 360
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Amit Bahl, MD; Phone Number: 248-898-9111; Email: amit.bahl@corewellhealth.org
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Maureen Cooney, RN; Phone Number: 248-551-0099; Email: maureen.cooney@corewellhealth.org

Study Locations

• United States
  • Michigan
    • Royal Oak, Michigan, United States, 48073
      • Recruiting
      • Beaumont Hospital - Royal Oak
      • Contact: Amit Bahl, MD; Phone Number: 248-898-9111; Email: amit.bahl@corewellhealth.org

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Study Participants Inclusion Criteria:

≥ than 18 years old Vascular Access Score of 4 or 5

Vascular Access Score:

1. Visible with distention and easily palpable
2. Visible and easily palpable
3. Not visible and easily palpable
4. Visible and poorly palpable
5. Not visible and poorly or non-palpable

Study participants exclusion criteria:

<18 years old Restricted mobility of elbow joint Cognitively impaired. Skin complications that limit access to the potential IV site

Clinician Participants Inclusion Criteria:

Clinician working in the emergency department at Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital (physician, advanced practice provider, nurse, technician) Competency in Operation STICK, which is an vascular access training program.

Clinician participants exclusion criteria:

None

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Arm 1 (6.35cm 20 gauge ultralong intravenous catheter); Arm 1 Device: B. Braun 6.35cm 20 gauge ultralong intravenous catheter	Device: B. Braun 6.35cm 20 gauge ultralong intravenous catheter; B Braun Medical Inc, 6.35cm 20 gauge ultralong intravenous catheter
Experimental: Arm 2 (5.71 cm 20 gauge Accucath); Arm 2 Device: BD 5.71 cm 20 gauge Accucath, ultralong intravenous catheter with guide wire	Device: BD 5.71 cm 20 gauge Accucath; Bard Access Systems, Inc, BD 5.71 cm 20 gauge ultralong intravenous catheter with guide wire

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Survival of the BBraun 6.35 centimeter 20 gauge ultralong intravenous catheter compared to the BD 5.71 cm 20 gauge ultralong intravenous catheter with guide wire	Survival of catheter will be measured in hours from time of insertion to time of removal or failure. Functionality is defined as being able to aspirate blood and/or flush without resistance with 3-5 milliliters of saline. If unable, the catheter is considered to have failed.	up to 15 days or the duration of the IV catheter
Time to insertion	Time to insertion(measured in minutes). Time to insertion is defined as needlestick to dressing application.	First day of hospitalization
First-stick success rate	Number of patients with only one puncture of skin to achieve venous access	First day of hospitalization

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Cost for all vascular needs during hospitalization	Cost per patient for vascular access during hospitalization, comprising of 1) direct costs of IV insertion based on labor and material costs per insertion attempt and estimated similar costs of rescue devices if needed and 2) cost of treatment based on estimated cost per hour	up to 15 days or the duration of the IV catheter
Catheter Associated Thrombosis	Number of participants with all symptomatic catheter related upper extremity venous thrombosis inclusive of superficial thrombophlebitis, deep venous thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism will be confirmed by upper extremity doppler evaluation, computed tomography, and/or ventilation perfusion testing.	up to 30 days post discharge
Catheter Associated bloodstream infection	Number of participants with catheter-associated bloodstream infection. Cases of infection will be identified using confirmed catheter-related blood stream infection data collected by the surveillance team within the epidemiology department as per the Centers for Disease Control definition of laboratory-confirmed blood-stream infection (CLABSI).	up to 30 days post discharge

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Corewell Health East
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Amit Bahl, MD, Corewell Health East

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 7, 2023
• Primary Completion (Estimated): March 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): May 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 24, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 24, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): October 30, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): January 16, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 15, 2026
• Last Verified: January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Phlebitis; PIV; BBraun Ultra Long Catheter; BD Accucath; IV infection; peripheral intravenous
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Vascular Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases; Peripheral Vascular Diseases; Vasculitis; Phlebitis
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2023-221

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: Yes
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: Yes