Long Peripheral Cannulas: an alternative to Short Peripheral Cannulas? A Literature Review of the advantages and disadvantages of their use

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Short peripheral intravenous catheters are the most commonly used devices for short-term vascular access. However, in patients with difficult intravenous access (DIVA), they may be associated with higher rates of catheter failure, complications, repeated cannulation attempts, and delays in treatment. Long peripheral catheters represent a potential alternative that, despite their higher unit cost, may provide clinical and organizational benefits.

AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of long peripheral catheters compared with short peripheral catheters in terms of catheter dwell time, reliability, and patient comfort.

METHODS: A structured narrative review was conducted by searching PubMed and the Cochrane Library. Studies published between 2019 and 2024 in English or Italian and available as full text were included.

RESULTS: Nineteen studies were included. Long peripheral catheters showed a mean dwell time ranging from 8 to 14.5 days compared with 55 hours for short peripheral catheters. The mean number of cannulation attempts was lower for long peripheral catheters (1.39 vs 2.85), and the included studies consistently reported lower catheter failure and complication rates than those observed with short peripheral catheters.

CONCLUSIONS: Available evidence suggests that ultrasound-guided long peripheral catheters represent a valid alternative to short peripheral catheters in patients with DIVA, providing longer catheter dwell time, fewer cannulation attempts, and lower complication rates, with potential benefits for patient comfort and quality of care.