Hemodynamics, fluids & transfusion
Incidence of Adverse Events in Peripheral Intravenous Vasopressor Use: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors' conclusion
In this systematic review and meta-analysis of adult patients, AE incidence was low after short-term vasopressor administration through PIV catheters, particularly short catheters.
Study context
- Population
- Critically ill adults with hypotension, shock, or critical illness receiving vasopressors via peripheral intravenous (PIV) catheters
- Participants
- 33,060 adults · 49 studies
- Comparison
- Norepinephrine vs Epinephrine vs Phenylephrine vs Dopamine vs Vasopressin vs Metaraminol
- Outcome
- Pooled incidence of AEs as the proportion among total catheters
Methodological detailsrandom-effects model, generalized linear mixed model for pooled proportions
- Random-effects model
- Generalized linear mixed model for pooled proportions
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Pooled minor AE incidence
- Pooled minor AE incidence, all vasopressors
- 2.3% (95% CI, 1.5%-3.7%)
Further pooled results
- Pooled proportion of central venous catheter (CVC) avoidance, 38 studies, 15 371 catheters
- 59.7% (95% CI, 46.4%-71.7%)
- Range of CVC avoidance
- 0% to 100%
Safety
Major AEs by catheter type
- VTE events, all in 4 studies using midline catheters (1126 catheters)
- 30
- Pooled major AE incidence, midline catheters
- 1.4% (95% CI, 0.4%-5.4%)
- Major AE (tissue necrosis), 43 studies using short PIV catheters (29 596 catheters)
- 1
- Pooled major AE incidence, short PIV catheters
- 0.0% (95% CI, 0.0%-0.0%)
Original publication
Incidence of Adverse Events in Peripheral Intravenous Vasopressor Use: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. JAMA Netw Open. Published 2 March 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →