Approximately 200,000 central venous catheter insertions are made annually in the UK, enabling easy administration of fluids and medications to hospital patients. Between 1.5 and 3 cases per 10,000 procedures involve guidewire retention (GWR), where the guidewire used to site the catheter is left in. This is classed in the NHS as a ‘Never Event’. The WireSafe kit is designed to reduce the risk of GWR, preventing the procedure from progressing until the guidewire is removed.
At the request of NHSE, the YHARC performed an early cost-effectiveness analysis of the WireSafe device, informed by centrally held GWR data.
WireSafe was not cost-effective; largely due to the small number of GWR cases (61 over 4 years) relative to the high number of central venous catheter insertions that the device would need to be used during.
Results were shared with NHSE, recommending consideration of alternative systemic solutions.
