Functional Duration of Peripheral Intravenous Cannula in Neonates with or without Splint: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objectives To determine the effect of splint on the functional duration of peripheral intravenous cannula (PIVC) in neonates. Methods The trial was prospectively registered with the Clinical Trial Registry of India (CTRI/2021/09/036337). One-hundred-fifty cannulations in 71 neonates were randomized to splint (n = 75) and no-splint (n = 75) groups, respectively. The median (interquartile range, IQR) functional duration of PIVC was calculated from the time of PIVC insertion till removal due to the development of signs of PIVC failure or treatment completion. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis was used to compute the time to complication of PIVC. Complications related to PIVC were noted and multivariate Cox-proportion hazard analysis was done to find the predictors associated with PIVC failure. Results Median (IQR) functional duration of PIVC in the splint and the no-splint group was 28 (23–48) and 30 (25–48) h, respectively ( p = 0.477). PIVC duration was higher in the splint group in term neonates and the no-splint group in preterm neonates; however, the differences were not statistically significant. No difference was observed in continuous vs. intermittent infusion subgroups. Time to complication development was also comparable between the groups. Conclusions Splint application did not affect functional PIVC duration and its related complications in neonates.