Vein visualization devices to facilitate peripheral intravenous cannulation
Abstract:
Objective: To investigate the effect of vascular imaging using near-infrared (NIR) light and transilluminator devices on pain, fear of pain, and patient satisfaction during peripheral intravenous cannulation (PIVC) insertion.
Methods: NIR light visualization (n = 50) and transilluminator (n = 50) techniques were used in the intervention, while the standard method was used in the control group (n = 52). The primary outcome was the success rate of first-attempt PIVC insertion, pain, and fear of pain with the PIVC procedure. Secondary outcomes included patient satisfaction and duration of cannulation.
Results: The rate of successful first-attempt cannulation was 90% in the NIR light group, 70% in the transilluminator group, and 96.2% in the control group. No statistically significant difference was observed between the intensities of PIVC pain and fear of PIVC insertion pain between the groups. NIR light and control group participants’ satisfaction and overall experience of PIVC insertion scores were higher than transilluminator participants. The PIVC procedure length of time for the transilluminator group (43.88 ± 10.5 s) participants was higher than that of the NIR light (29.06 ± 11.52 s) and control group (27.19 ± 14.83 s) participants (p < 0.05).
Conclusions: The difference obtained in the study did not reveal a significant enough difference to determine the best method to reduce pain and fear of pain. Additionally, regarding patient satisfaction, participants in the NIR light and control groups reported higher satisfaction levels than the transilluminator group. The transilluminator group had the longest PIVC procedure. Vein visibility scores differed significantly among the groups, with higher visibility observed in the NIR light and control groups than in the transilluminator group.
Trial registration: The trial was prospectively registered at the ClinicalTrials.gov Protocol Registration and Results System (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT05892978) on June 6, 2023, and received approval from the Non-Interventional Clinical Research Ethics Committee of Bursa Uludag University Faculty of Medicine (Approval no: 2023-11/42 date: May 16, 2023).
Reference:
Yılmaz H, Karacan Y, Macun S, Evrensel T. The effect of using vein visualization devices to facilitate peripheral intravenous cannulation on pain, fear, and patient satisfaction in adult oncology patients: a randomized controlled trial. Support Care Cancer. 2025 Nov 24;33(12):1123. doi: 10.1007/s00520-025-10187-4. PMID: 41276617.