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What are the risks associated with using a venous catheter?
The peripheral venous catheter is usually used in emergency situations, such as resuscitation, or more commonly to administer intravenous treatments.

Its installation is often a vital necessity, but it is not a procedure without consequences and it involves certain risks. 15% of patients who undergo this procedure develop a complication.

The main risks associated with using a venous catheter are:

• Infection (nosocomial diseases): catheter infections are estimated to represent 18 to 25% of nosocomial infections. Additionally, nearly 80% of contracted nosocomial diseases are reported to occur in catheterized patients. The incidence of infection appears to be higher for the central venous pathways than for the peripheral venous pathways.
• Pneumothorax: this can occur immediately or within 48 hours of catheter insertion. The pleural cavity, between the lungs and the rib cage, fills with air, causing respiratory discomfort, coughing, chest pain and even feelings of anxiety. This can be resolved within a few weeks or, when necessary, it can require hospitalization to drain the air from the chest.
• Hemorrhages by venous vascular injury: these generally occur on the internal jugular and femoral tract and remain mild. Ultrasound guiding reduces this risk.
• Thrombosis: this complication, less well known than catheter infection, is often a silent disease so it is more complicated to diagnose. Nevertheless, thrombosis and infection are often linked. The detection of a thrombus doubles the risk of catheter-related infections.