Applied health economics and health policy
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Appl Health Econ Health Policy · Feb 2014
Cost-effectiveness analysis of clinically indicated versus routine replacement of peripheral intravenous catheters.
Millions of peripheral intravenous catheters are used worldwide. The current guidelines recommend routine catheter replacement every 72-96 h. This practice requires increasing healthcare resource use. The clinically indicated catheter replacement strategy is proposed as an alternative. ⋯ The clinically indicated catheter replacement strategy is cost saving compared with routine replacement. It is recommended that healthcare organizations consider changing to a policy whereby catheters are changed only if clinically indicated.