Ultrasound-Guided Peripheral Venous Access Using AccuCath

While peripheral venous cannulation is among the most common procedures performed in clinical settings, it is estimated that PIV insertion fails for 6 million patients annually. Failure to establish peripheral venous access in the emergency department is a costly problem, leading to delays in diagnostics and treatment and requiring alternative sites for vascular access. These alternative methods can lead to higher complications rates, decreased patient satisfaction, and increased utilization of nursing and physician time. Complications from PIV failure also pose a significant financial burden to the healthcare system. Ultrasound guidance has been shown to greatly improve the process of localizing vessels for cannulation. In a healthcare climate that is increasingly focused on outcomes and cost-effectiveness, ultrasound-guided peripheral venous cannulation has become not only a viable but often the preferred method in patients with difficult venous access. Nevertheless, studies to date on ultrasound-guided peripheral venous cannulation have revealed some shortcomings, such as premature failure and low first attempt success rates. The purpose of our study is to assess whether ultrasound-guided cannulation of a AccuCath catheter, which has a coiled tip guidewire, is superior to ultrasound-guided cannulation of a conventional peripheral IV catheter across clinical outcomes relevant to the emergency department setting.