The ultrasound-guided versus standard technique for peripheral intravenous catheter placement by nurses: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aim: To comprehensively evaluate the efficacy of Ultrasound-guided technique for peripheral intravenous catheter placement by nurses in their daily practice. Background: Peripheral intravenous catheter insertion is a common clinical procedure in healthcare settings. Ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous placement has emerged in recent decades and was recognized as particularly useful in some specific patient groups. Methods: Studies that had compared the ultrasound-guided and traditional approaches were eligible for inclusion and further analysis. The primary outcome was the success rate on the first intravenous insertion attempt. The secondary outcomes included the time needed for successful insertion, and the average number of attempts to establish the IV access. We systematically assess all studies using Cochrane Collaboration's Risk of Bias tool and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. We calculated the odds ratio and standardized mean difference with 95 % confidence intervals for the outcomes. Data were analyzed and visualized on Review Manager 5.3.4 and Stata 16.0. Results: 23 studies were included (17 randomized controlled trials and six cohort studies) with a population of 2051 patients offered ultrasound-assisted technique and 2479 treated with the conventional approach for comparison. The former approach was associated with a higher success rate on the first attempt in comparison (OR = 2.95, 95 % CI: 1.86, 4.69). This technique also took less time and less acupuncture to patients' skin (SMD = -0.62, 95 % CI: 1.01, -0.23; SMD = -0.55, 95 % CI: 0.92, -0.18). In the sub-group analyses, children were more likely to benefit from ultrasound guided technique. Ultrasound guided technique demonstrated consistent and significant benefits in emergency clinical settings. Hospitals from different geographical locations exhibited similar trends in the three outcomes. Year of publication and study design revealed inconsistent and insignificant outcomes. Conclusions: Ultrasound-guided technique can be a safer, faster, and more effective alternative to the traditional approach for nurses to establish intravenous access across different clinical settings and age groups.