SynthesisPloS one2020
Subcutaneous hydration and medications infusions (effectiveness, safety, acceptability): A systematic review of systematic reviews.
Synthesis in PloS one, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
11 citing papers in PubMed, 40 citations in OpenAlex.
- Utilization patterns of hypodermoclysis and association with staffing levels in long-term care: a cross-sectional multicenter study in France.European geriatric medicine · 2026Article
- Current situation, challenges and future trends of pediatric palliative care from a multi-dimensional perspective: a narrative review.Translational pediatrics · 2026Review
- When and How to Use Subcutaneous Antibiotics.Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America · 2026Review
- Development and Validation of an Educational Tool on Hypodermoclysis for Palliative Care Professionals.Nursing reports (Pavia, Italy) · 2025Article
- International Consensus Guidelines on the Safe and Evidence-Based Practice of Mesotherapy: A Multidisciplinary Statement.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Article
- Subcutaneous Fluid Administration in Pediatric Sepsis With Challenging Intravenous Access.Cureus · 2025Article
- A Review on In Vivo Research Dehydration Models and Application of Rehydration Strategies.Nutrients · 2024Review
- Problematization methodology's impact on nursing and medical students' knowledge about hypodermoclysis: quasi-experimental study.Revista latino-americana de enfermagem · 2024Article
- Observational
- State of the Art in Hepatic Dysfunction in Pregnancy.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2021Review
- Subcutaneous vitamin B12 administration using a portable infusion pump in cobalamin-related remethylation disorders: a gentle and easy to use alternative to intramuscular injections.Orphanet journal of rare diseases · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveTo synthesize the current evidence for subcutaneous hydration and medication infusions from systematic reviews and to assess their methodological quality.
introductionPeripheral intravascular cannula/catheter insertion is a common invasive procedure for administering fluids and medications. Venous depletion is a growing concern for several patient populations. Subcutaneous access for the administration of isotonic solutions and medications is an alternative; however, vascular access assessment and planning guidelines rarely consider this route.
methodsSystematic review of systematic reviews (PROSPERO CRD42018046504). We searched 6 databases published in English language from 1990 to June 2020, identifying subcutaneous infusions an alternate route for fluids or medication. Methodological quality was evaluated using AMSTAR 2 criteria and data for mechanisms of infusion and outcomes related to effectiveness, safety, efficiency and acceptability extracted. The Johanna Briggs Institute's grades of recommendation informed the strength of recommendation.
resultsThe search yielded 1042 potential systematic reviews; 922 were excluded through abstract and duplicate screen. Of the remaining articles, 94 were excluded, and 26 were included. Overall, evidence is strong for recommending subcutaneous hydration infusions for older adults, weak for pediatric patients and inconclusive for palliative patients. There is strong evidence for 10 medications; weak evidence supporting 28 medications; however, there are eight medications with inconclusive evidence to make a recommendation and four medications not appropriate for subcutaneous delivery.
conclusionSubcutaneous access should be considered alongside intravenous therapy for hydration in older adults, and several medications. There are additional benefits in terms of ease of use and cost-effectiveness of this mode. Inclusion of subcutaneous access in clinical guidelines may promote uptake of this route to help preserve vessel health of vulnerable patients. Further high-quality research is needed to inform subcutaneous infusion therapy in a variety of populations (including pediatrics and palliative care) and medications and clarifying the mechanism of delivery.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.