Table 3 Characteristics of PIVCs placed in the ED, pre-hospital setting and combined

Use within 24 hours

 Used within 24 hours

883

70.7

585

66.7

298

80.1

 < 0.001

 Idle

366

29.3

292

33.3

74

19.9

Arrival mode of patient

 Ambulance

674

54.0

302

34.4

372

100.0

N/A

 Self-presented

575

46.0

575

65.6

0

0.0

Clinician inserting

 Doctor

277

22.2

277

31.6

NA

 Nurse

587

47.0

587

66.9

NA

N/A

 Paramedic

372

29.8

NA

372

100.0

 Unknown

13

1.0

13

1.5

0

0.0

Seniority of first clinician cannulating

 Student

8

0.6

5

0.6

3

0.8

Not assessed

 Level 1

68

5.4

20

2.3

48

12.9

 Level 2

997

79.8

741

84.5

256

68.8

 Level 3

113

9.0

98

11.2

15

4.0

 Unknown

63

5.0

13

3.5

50

13.4

Patient factors

Age

 18–29

184

14.7

141

16.1

43

11.6

0.117

 30–59

500

40.0

344

39.2

156

41.9

 60 + 

565

45.2

392

44.7

173

46.5

Sex

 F

626

50.1

462

52.7

164

44.1

0.005

 M

623

49.9

415

47.3

208

55.9

Triage category‡

 1

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.0

 < 0.001

 2

503

40.3

316

36.0

187

50.3

 3

661

52.9

492

56.1

169

45.4

 4

74

5.9

67

7.6

7

1.9

 5

3

0.2

2

0.2

1

0.3

 Missing

8

0.6

0

0.0

8

2.2

Time category

 Night (18:00–05:59)

308

24.7

201

22.9

107

28.8

0.012

 Day (06:00–17:59)

941

75.1

676

77.1

265

70.4

Number of attempts at cannulation‡

 1

988

79.1

684

78.0

304

81.7

 < 0.001

 2

140

11.2

118

13.5

22

5.9

 3 +

83

6.6

75

8.6

8

2.2

 Missing

38

3.0

0

0.0

38

10.2

Cannula insertion site (first)‡

 Antecubital fossa

759

60.8

574

65.5

185

49.7

 < 0.001

 Dorsum

270

21.6

175

20.0

95

25.5

 Forearm

116

9.3

65

7.4

51

13.7

 Unknown

104

8.3

63

7.2

41

11.0

Cannula gauge (first) (n = 328)‡

 Other (14 or 16 g)

4

0.3

1

0.1

3

0.8

 < 0.001

 18 g

286

22.9

139

15.8

147

39.5

 20 g

842

67.4

675

77.0

167

44.9

 22 g

51

4.1

40

4.6

11

3.0

 Unknown

66

5.3

22

2.5

44

11.8

Purpose of PIVCs use in first 24 hours (one only)

 Multiple non-pathology purposes

426

34.1

320

36.5

106

28.5

 Other single purpose only

139

11.1

137

15.6

2

0.5

 Fluids only

130

10.4

105

12.0

25

6.7

 Pain only

83

6.6

23

2.6

60

16.1

 Nausea only

32

2.6

Not captured

32

8.6

 Used, but specific use not collected^

73

5.8

NA

0.0

73

19.6

 Pathology only or no use identified

366

29.3

292

33.3

74

19.9

Purpose of PIVC use includes (multiple options available)

 Pain

280

22.4

129

14.7

151

40.6

 < .001^

 Fluids

413

33.1

365

41.6

48

12.9

 < .001^

 Other IV

550

44.0

437

49.8

113

30.4

 < .001^

 Pathology

843

67.5

843

96.1

0

0.0

 Unsure

73

5.8

0

0.0

73

19.6