What Is Your KVO? Historical Perspectives, Review of Evidence, and a Survey About an Often Overlooked Nursing Practice

Abstract

Like many nursing "sacred cows," the practice of keeping a vein open with a small infusion of intravenous solution does not have clear origins or robust evidence. A survey of Canadian nurses was conducted to determine current practices. More than 50% of respondents reported regularly using a keep-vein-open (KVO) rate between doses of intermittent medication. Frequently, the rate was not specified by the prescriber; in this case, nurses preferred 21 to 30 mL/h. Given the absence of evidence and the frequent use, it is important to ensure that KVO is used properly in the context of a medical prescription or an organizational protocol.

The effect of different flushing and locking techniques on catheter occlusion rates in central venous catheters: protocol for a multicentre, randomized controlled, parallel-group, open-label, superiority clinical trial

“…Keep vein open (KVO) refers to the practice of keeping a vein open with a small amount of intravenous solution [ 16 ]. Previous studies have focused mainly on comparing the effects of intermittent flushing and continuous infusion on peripheral intravenous catheters and neonates [ 17 , 18 ].…”