This integrative literature review aimed at identifying, in the national and international literature, from 1992 to 2002, the publications about bandages to fix a peripheral intravenous catheter and the implications of its usage. Seven scientific articles were identified in the Medline database by using the following keywords: peripheral catheterisation and bandage. The results showed that nurses made 85% of the publications; 42.8% used descriptive comparative research as their methodology and; 71.4% investigated the occurrence of complications. Two studies showed a decrease in the occurrence of complications during the usage of transparent bandage coupled with a safety device. It was concluded that there is not enough basis to subsidise the selection of a bandage to fix a peripheral intravenous catheter.
bandages; peripheral catheterisation; nursing