Comparison of dwell time and complications between peripheral venous catheters and midline catheters in infants weighing ≥ 1500 g at birth

Background: Newborns in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) often require infusion therapy immediately after admission. In such cases, the catheter must be selected according to the condition of the neonate. The aim of this study was to compare the performance of a peripheral venous catheter (PVC) in terms of dwell time, number of catheter replacements required, and complication rate with that of a midline catheter (MC) in neonates weighing =1500 g and requiring care in a NICU. Methods: The study had a retrospective observational design and included neonates with a birthweight of =1500 g who were admitted to a level III NICU between April 2019 and May 2021 and received infusion therapy via a PVC or MC. Patient, maternal, and infusion-related data were collected from the medical records. The outcomes were compared between the PVC and MC groups according to type of catheter used. Results: Univariate analyses of the infusion-related data demonstrated that neonates in the MC group (n = 52) had significantly longer dwell times, required fewer catheter replacements, and had a greater probability of completing therapy with less risk of extravasation than those in the PVC group (n = 54). Conclusion: These findings confirm that the MC has advantages over the PVC, including a longer dwell time, fewer catheter replacements, and less risk of extravasation in newborns with a birthweight of =1500 g.