背景和目的：先前研究指出，一到四成急診患者可能接受非必要之周邊靜脈導。有鑑於不必要之導管植入會增加醫療費用及相關併發症，本文擬討論急診室患者接受周邊靜脈導管之必要性與分析非必要靜脈導管之危險因子。方法：本研究於2011 年一到九月期間於新竹一地區醫院急診室進行。方法乃隨機採取400 位急診患者，紀錄檢傷時的各種生命徵象，檢驗數值及使用導管之適應症，由醫師進行事後分析。參考先前文獻建議將患者區分為必要及非必要之周邊靜脈導管並根據以分析。結果：本研究顯示逾四成患者接受非必要之靜脈周邊導管。與其他生命跡象相比，發燒、白血球過高及腹瀉(OR 分別為8.31、1.55 及10.07, p<0.05) 之患者，更容易因此接受非必要的靜脈導管。在適應症方面，電解質不平衡者較容易接受非必要之靜脈導管(OR:1.62, p<0.05) 。結論：與之前國外研究結果相比，國內急診患者非必要使用率仍偏高，尤其是發燒及腹瀉患者。

Background and purpose: Excessive use of peripheral intravenous catheters (PICs) is associated with greater numbers of complications and higher costs, while patient characteristics and indications associated with idle catheters in emergency wards are rarely reported. Methods: In total, 400 patients who received an empiric PIC in the emergency ward were assigned to either a necessary or idle catheter group according to the inclusion criteria. Their characteristics, presentations, and indications for a PIC were analyzed. Results: Among all catheters, 45% were idle. We found that patients presenting with fever (odds ratio (OR): 8.31), leukocytosis (OR: 1.55), and diarrhea (OR: 10.07) were more likely to have an idle catheter. Patients who received a PIC for electrolyte disturbances also had more idle catheters than those with other indications. Conclusions: We found that nearly half of empiric PICs were idle in our study. Considering the excessive costs, complications, and injuries from PICs, we suggest judicious use of PICs when there are less-invasive and more-effective alternatives.