Intravascular device administration sets: replacement after standard versus prolonged use in hospitalised patients—a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial (The RSVP Trial)

Claire M Rickard, Nicole M Marsh, Joan Webster, Nicole C Gavin, Matthew R McGrail, Emily Larsen, Amanda Corley, Debbie Long, John R Gowardman, Marghie Murgo, John F Fraser, Raymond J Chan, Marianne C Wallis, Jeanine Young, David McMillan, Li Zhang, Md Abu Choudhury, Nicholas Graves, E Geoffrey Playford

Vascular access devices (VADs), such as peripheral or central venous catheters, are vital across all medical and surgical specialties. To allow therapy or haemodynamic monitoring, VADs frequently require administration sets (AS) composed of infusion tubing, fluid containers, pressure-monitoring transducers and/or burettes. While VADs are replaced only when necessary, AS are routinely replaced every 3-4 days in the belief that this reduces infectious complications. Strong evidence supports AS use up to 4 days, but there is less evidence for AS use beyond 4 days. AS replacement twice weekly increases hospital costs and workload.