Relationship between surface forearm vein pattern and complications of peripheral and central venous catheterization in a sample of children treated in the pediatric intensive care unit of Santander, Colombia

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Edgar Giovanni Corzo Gómez; Martha Isabel Robles Carreño; Ángela Milena Díaz Díaz & Sonia Esperanza Osma Zambrano

Summary

For several decades there have been advanced anatomical studies showing how populations in different countries maintain a representation of the different surface vein patterns in the forearm. This contrasts with the concept rooted in the classical texts of anatomy that kept the idea of a low variability of veins and a predominance of pattern called "M". This descriptive study in children admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and required upper limb venous access, seeks to determine whether there is an association between the veins and superficial venous pattern of the forearm and the need to remove the catheter surface (branule and epicutaneous). Fifty-four patients were included: 23 girls and 31 boys. Directed by venipuncture and type of vein patterns were assessed. Twenty-two changes occurred mainly in venipuncture patterns II and IV. But although the pattern IV had a lower percentage compared to the standard presentation II, it was the only pattern which showed the need to change the venipuncture on 3 consecutive occasions. We assign great importance to give a clinical application to the anatomical concept of vein patterns; encouraging nursing schools and those teaching Medicine vein patterns and associated risk implications, and titrate with further studies if the IV pattern can increase iatrogenic risks in pediatric populations.

KEY WORDS: Vein pattern; Superficial veins; Cephalic vein; Basilic vein; Venous catheterization.

How to cite this article

CORZO, G. E. G.; ROBLES, C. M. I.; DÍAZ, D. A. M. & OSMA, Z. S. E. Relationship between surface forearm vein pattern and complications of peripheral and central venous catheterization in a sample of children treated in the pediatric intensive care unit of Santander, Colombia. Int. J. Morphol., 34(3):885-889, 2016.