The Impact of Three-Way Extension Sets on Intravenous Cannula Duration and Complication Rates: A Quasi-Experimental Study in a Tertiary Care Hospital swat.

Abstract

Background:
The medical practice of Intravenous (IV) cannulation allows healthcare providers to deliver fluids and medicine through veins. However, the duration of IV cannulas remains limited due to recurring line changes and complications that include phlebitis, infection, and occlusion. Researchers introduced three-way extension sets to prolong the lifespan of cannulas and decrease the occurrence of medical complications. This investigation analyzes whether three-way extension sets improve IV cannula duration alongside their ability to decrease catheter-associated complications.
Aim:
Compared to standard IV cannulas, the research evaluated how three-way extension sets impacted IV cannula duration and complication rates for phlebitis, infiltration, occlusion, and infection.
Methods:
The research took place in a tertiary care hospital through a quasi-experimental design that included sixty subjects distributed across two treatment groups. The experimental group inserted three-way extension sets into patients, but the control group received standard IV cannulas. Research teams obtained measurements regarding cannula duration and complications. The statistical analysis utilized SPSS version 27, where results with p < 0.05 became significant.
Results:
A significant analysis showed the experimental group lasted their peripheral intravenous lines for 96.3 hours, which was longer than the control group's 72.5 hours (p < 0.001). The experimental group reported fewer complications, including phlebitis infiltration occlusion and infection, than the control group. The results of multivariate regression analysis established that extension set usage directly determined the length of cannula insertion (AOR = 3.45, p < 0.001).
Conclusion:
The three-way extension set provides extended IV cannula duration while lowering complications, creating a cost-effective solution for IV therapy management. Implementing these devices in clinical practice is crucial for improving patient medical outcomes.