Abstract:

Objective: Intravenous therapy is one of the most commonly used routes for drug administration. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of peripheral intravenous infiltration and risk factors in children. Methods: This cross-sectional and cohort study was conducted in a university hospital in pediatric patients. An information form and the Infiltration Rating Scale were used. Data were obtained from patients, their parents, and patient records. Infiltration data was obtained by researchers through direct observation. Significance was assumed as p<0.05 at 95% confidence interval. Results: A total of 176 pediatric patients made up the study cohort. Most of the peripheral venous catheters were inserted by nurses and into upper extremities. The incidence of infiltration was 57.9%, and most of the infiltrates were first-degree. The development of infiltration was significantly associated with the medical specialty being attended (p=0.001) and the number of catheter insertion attempts (p=0.013). Conclusion: The specific medical specialty and the number of catheter insertion attempts were shown to play a significant role in the development of infiltration.

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