Effectiveness of passive ankle pump exercise on lower limb swelling in neonates with a peripherally inserted central catheter: a quasi-experimental study.

Objective: To explore whether passive ankle pump exercises can relieve swelling in the lower limbs of newborns with a peripherally inserted central catheter.

Method: A total of 129 neonates hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit of a tertiary hospital in Qingdao, from January to December 2023, were selected as the study subjects. They were divided into the control group (n = 64) and the intervention group (n = 65) by a convenient sampling method. The control group received routine intervention, while the intervention group was submitted to passive ankle pump exercise in addition to the routine intervention.

Results: The changes in leg circumference over time in the two groups of newborns showed inconsistent trends (F = 93.99, p = 0.001). The passive ankle pump exercise reduced the increase in leg circumference by 17% in the intervention group. The median time for swelling resolution in the catheter limb of the intervention group was shorter than that of the control group (56 hours vs 80 hours), with a statistically significant difference in swelling resolution time between the two groups (F = 93.99, p = 0.001).

Conclusion: The use of passive ankle pump exercise can reduce the degree of swelling in the lower limbs of neonates with a peripherally inserted central catheter and promote the resolution of swelling.