2nd September 2025

Health Technology Wales guidance: Long length peripheral intravenous catheters

Health Technology Wales (HTW) has published new guidance on the use of long length intravenous catheters (LPCs) for people with difficult intravenous access.

LPCs are used for intravenous (IV) therapy to deliver medication, fluids or nutrients directly into a person’s bloodstream and feature longer tubing than short peripheral intravenous catheters (SPCs).

It has been proposed that the longer tubing makes them easier to insert and enables them to stay in place for longer.

According to the HTW guidance, LPCs should be routinely available as an alternative to short peripheral intravenous catheters (SPCs) for people with difficult intravenous access who are expected to need intravenous access for between four to 14 days. However, although LPCs show promise in other scenarios the evidence available is insufficient to support routine adoption.