Introduction of a non-ported peripheral intravenous catheter with multi-use blood control septum offers improvements in the overall efficiency of the procedure and is clinically well accepted

Financial challenges that the National Health Service (NHS), England, faces may jeopardise its future. This study evaluated the direct cost of using two different safety peripheral intravenous cannulae (SPIVC) with and without a blood control septum, including the cost of device and clinician time. Observation of 103 cannulations demonstrated a 54 second (29%) time reduction per cannulation with the non-ported SPIVC with multi-use blood control septum (Introcan Safety® 3 B Braun), compared to the standard ported SPIVC (Vasofix® Safety B Braun) (P<0.05). The direct cost analysis, including clinician time, demonstrated that the introduction of SPIVC with multi-use blood control septum could offer time efficiency savings equivalent to a reduction in average cannulation costs by 25%. Eighty two per cent of users perceived the insertion of SPIVC with multi-use blood control septum to be easy to use; 82% would choose to use it in clinical practice.