The effect of transilluminator device on successful peripheral venous catheter placement in children: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Peripheral venous catheter placement (PVCP) is difficult for children due to the small diameter of their veins in adipose tissue. The transilluminator device (TD) is proposed as the effective method for PVCP. Therefore, this meta-analysis aimed to assess the effect of TD on first attempt success rate (FASR), mean the number of attempts (MNA), and mean duration of successful PVC placement (MDSPP) in children. In a systematic review and meta-analysis, an extensive search of online databases including PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, Web of sciences, Cochrane, Clinical trial.gov, ProQuest, and Google scholar search engine was conducted. Keywords were combined and searched from the earliest records up to December 2021. The current meta-analysis was performed using STATA V.14.0 software. Six studies (four RCTs and two non-RCTs design) were included in the present meta-analysis. Analysis showed using of TD significantly led to FASR to 34% in studies with RCTs design (RR = 1.34; CI = 1.18–1.53) although, non-RCT studies did not indicate it (RR: 0.95; CI = 0.50–1.79). Also, one RCT (WMD = −0.24; CI = −0.4 −0.08) and two non-RCTs 0.05 (WMD = −0.05; 95% CI = −0.46–0.37) reported the MNA. Two RCTs (WMD: −24.30; CI = −53.50–4.89) and one non-RCT (WMD: −295.20; CI = −359.34 to −231.06) found TD decreased MDSSP. RCTs and non-RCTs studies showed different results in terms of some outcomes. Based on the results of four RCTs studies, the use of TD significantly increased the FASR of PVCP. The results of two non-RCTs also showed TD insignificantly decreased the FASR of PVCP. More evidence (RCT design) is required for decision-making about the effectiveness of TD on successful PVCP.