Clinical validation of the diagnosis adverse location of peripherally inserted central catheter in neonatology

Abstract

Objective: To determine the accuracy measures of clinical indicators of Nursing Diagnosis (ND) of the International Classification of Nursing Practice (ICNP)®, Adverse Location of Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Methods: Diagnostic accuracy study carried out with 40 neonates admitted to a NICU in Northeastern Brazil. Data collection was performed through clinical examination and application of an institutional instrument. The clinical indicators analysis of the respective ND was performed using accuracy measures. Results: Among the study participants, the majority were female and had low birth weight. The prevalence of ND was 57.5%. The clinical indicators ‘difficulty in catheter progression’ and ‘absence of blood return’ showed high specificity values. The catheter insertion site, prematurity, and the occurrence of adverse events presented higher sensitivity values. Conclusion: Accurate diagnostic inference allows the early identification of inadequate catheter tip positioning, supporting nurses in developing precise and effective interventions to avoid complications.