Study to improve intravenous treatment of hospitalised babies – UQ News

The University of Queensland is leading a trial in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast focused on improving life-saving treatments for hospitalised babies.

Professor Amanda Ullman by UQ's School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work and Children's Health Queensland said a new monitoring device is being tested to see if it can accurately detect when an IV fluid is being administered into tissue rather than a vein.

“Every year in Australia, more than 18,000 babies under 12 months of age are admitted to hospital. Sixty per cent of them require an infusion or drip for treatments such as hydration and antibiotics,” Professor Ullman said.

“Our global studies have shown that 33 to 45 percent of these infusions lose their effectiveness before treatment is completed.

“The vein into which the infusion is placed can become damaged during treatment, which can cause the fluid to pool in the tissues instead of entering the bloodstream.

“Our trial uses an IV biosensor – which includes a patient monitor, a reusable electronic cable and a near-infrared sensor placed on the patient’s skin near the infusion site – to continuously monitor the surrounding tissue.

“The IV biosensor provides audible and visual alarms when tissue fluid volume changes.”

The research team will recruit more than 500 babies over three years to test the device at the Queensland Children's Hospital, the Neonatal Unit at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, and the Neonatal Unit and Child and Adolescent Unit at the Sunshine Coast University Hospital.

Professor Ullman said families participating in the study will be randomly assigned to receive either standard treatment or standard treatment plus the IV biosensor.

“The babies will be carefully monitored to see if the IV biosensor helps detect when an infusion is not working as it should,” said Professor Ullman.

“Even with the best care and monitoring, infusions can cause unintentional injury because by the time signs of injury such as pain, redness and swelling appear, the damage has already been done.

“Our goal is to detect IV problems as early as possible to prevent potential consequences for babies.

“If the new monitoring device is effective, it could improve the experiences of babies and families throughout their hospital stay.”

The study is funded by the Medical Research Future Fund 2022 Clinician Researchers – Nurses, Midwives and Allied Health Grant.

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