Scoping Review of Early Intravenous Infiltration and Extravasation Detection Devices

Failure to promptly detect intravenous (IV) infiltration can often lead to damaging effects, such as necrosis and compartment syndrome, which increase the length of hospital stay and cost of care. Currently, nurses periodically monitor the vascular access device (VAD) site and extremity for symptoms of swelling, blanching, and change in temperature. However, nurses are often unable to monitor the VAD site frequently enough to detect subtle symptoms that may present immediately following an infiltration or extravasation. Nurses need a highly sensitive way to rapidly detect IV infiltration to minimize the time between infiltration and intervention. This study reviews technologies with the potential to detect IV infiltration earlier and suggests priorities for future research in this area.