Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39855654›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2025

Mapping existing research on flushing peripheral vascular catheters: a scoping review protocol.

Jiaxin Deng, Orlaith Hernon, Liping Liu, Catriona Duggan, Leo R Quinlan, Zina Alfahl, Peter J Carr

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Jiaxin DengSchool of Nursing & Midwifery, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland j.deng3@universityofgalway.ie.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0008-4047-1188
Orlaith HernonSchool of Nursing & Midwifery, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland.
Liping LiuThe First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Catriona DugganSchool of Nursing & Midwifery, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland.
Leo R QuinlanSchool of Medicine, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland.
Zina AlfahlSchool of Medicine, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland.
Peter J CarrSchool of Nursing & Midwifery, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionThe peripheral vascular catheter (PVC) is the most common intravenous medical device used in hospitals, given it is crucial for the delivery of intravenous therapies. Despite its widespread use, PVC complications such as occlusion, infiltration, extravasation, phlebitis, thrombophlebitis, catheter-related thrombosis and catheter-related bloodstream infection significantly affect patient safety, leading to increased morbidity and healthcare costs. One approach to maintain PVC patency and therefore device longevity is to flush the PVC. This usually involves the use of 5 to 10 mL syringes with normal saline. The evidence on PVC flushing practices is dispersed, making it difficult to draw clear conclusions about current practices and clinical implications. A scoping review is needed to explore and synthesise this evidence systematically and to systematically map the existing research on PVC flushing by assessing the scope, methodologies and outcomes of existing studies. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The review will adhere to the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology, using a three-phase search strategy as recommended by JBI and covering the full-time range available in each database. Systematic searches will be conducted across Embase, Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and CINAHL; clinical trial registries; and grey literature sources to identify potentially eligible studies published up to May 2024. Following duplicate removal, 3021 records will remain for screening. Two independent reviewers will screen the records and extract data based on the review questions. The reporting will follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for scoping reviews, with the results and discussion structured according to the Patterns, Advances, Gaps, Evidence for practice and Research recommendations framework. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethics approval is not required for this study. The findings will be shared through professional networks, presented at conferences and published in a scientific journal.

Indexed as

Catheterization, PeripheralVascular Access DevicesCatheter-Related InfectionsHumansResearch DesignScoping Reviews as TopicNursesProtocols & guidelinesVASCULAR MEDICINE

Identifiers

PMID39855654
PMCPMC11758703

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.