Abstract: Objective: To compare the effects of normal saline flushing (q24h vs q12h) on maintaining the patency and indwelling time of the Peripheral Venous Catheter (PVC) in children aged 1 to 3 years. Methods: We selected hospitalized children aged 1-3 years in 3 hospitals from April to June 2021. Using sealed envelope method, they were divided into q24h group (n=115) and q12h group (n=117) and given to pulse tube flushing or positive pressure sealing tube respectively according to different frequency (q24h vs q12h). We compared the incidence of tube blocking and indwelling time of PVC between the two groups. Results: Intentional analysis (ITT) showed that the tube blocking rate of PVC in q24h group and q12h group were 10.4% and 8.5%, respectively, with no statistical significance (P>0.05), and the difference was -1.9% (95%CI: -9.4%~5.6%), indicating that the non-inferior flushing effect of q24h was higher than that of q12h. The indwelling time of PVC in the q24h group and q12h group was (63.74±19.72) h and (68.43±19.52) h, respectively, with no significant difference (P>0.05). Conclusion: In the q24h group, normal saline flushing can maintain the patency of PVC in children aged 1 to 3 years, save costs and reduce the workload of nurses without affecting their indwelling time, and provide a basis for the maintenance of intravenous PVC in young children.

Key words: catheterization, peripheral; tube blocking; Peripheral Venous Catheters; sodium chloride; young child; sealing tube; time factors