The Experience of Setting up a Vascular Access Unit in a South European Large Hospital: The Step-by-Step Description of the First Year of Activity

Aim

The article aims to describe the establishment and development of the Vascular Access Unit in a major hospital in Southern Europe during the SARS-COV2 pandemic and to evaluate the benefits brought by the Unit.

Implications for the Profession and Patient Care

The advantages of having a vascular access service for managing various vascular devices are widely recognized in many countries, due to the perceived benefits of reducing complications, increasing efficiency, and lowering costs.

Methods

Operators were thoroughly and appropriately trained, enhancing the quality and suitability of vascular access by forming a multidisciplinary team to redesign the vascular access process.

Results

In the first year, starting from July 2021, we implanted 6125 catheters. The Vascular Access Team achieved a higher percentage of first-attempt cannulation success, which correlated with fewer complications, such as bleeding, and improved patient satisfaction. The complication rate was very low, with most issues arising from improper management.

Conclusion

Establishing Vascular Access Teams should be a priority in large hospitals, as they can positively impact ward organization and significantly enhance patient satisfaction.