Smiths Medical 326500 - CATHETER, SAFETY. VIAVALVE, IV, 18'X1 1/4", EACH

The Smiths Medical 326500 ViaValve IV Safety Catheter is designed for professional peripheral intravenous access in clinical environments where dependable catheter placement, safety-focused handling, and efficient workflow are essential. This IV safety catheter supports venous access procedures requiring an 18G catheter with a 1 1/4 inch length, making it suitable for applications where higher flow capability may be needed.

Built for use by trained healthcare professionals, the ViaValve safety catheter design helps support controlled insertion, secure handling, and reduced exposure risk during IV starts. Its safety-oriented construction is intended to help facilities maintain consistent clinical performance while supporting sharps safety practices.

Key Benefits

• 18G catheter size supports higher flow rates for appropriate IV therapy applications.
• 1 1/4 inch catheter length provides practical venous access depth for suitable patient presentations.
• Safety catheter design helps reduce the risk of accidental needlestick exposure after use.
• ViaValve technology supports cleaner, more controlled catheter handling during IV procedures.
• Suitable for hospitals, emergency departments, outpatient clinics, and procedural care settings.
• Single-unit packaging allows convenient ordering for replacement stock, case carts, or procedure-specific use.

Compatibility and Applications

The Smiths Medical 326500 ViaValve IV Safety Catheter is intended for peripheral intravenous access when an 18G catheter is clinically appropriate. It may be used for fluid administration, medication delivery, blood draws when permitted by facility protocol, perioperative access, emergency care access, and other IV therapy applications requiring reliable peripheral catheter placement.

This catheter should be used with compatible IV administration sets, extension sets, needleless connectors, securement products, dressings, and flushing supplies according to the healthcare facilitys procedures and the product instructions for use. Clinical compatibility should always be confirmed before use, especially when selecting catheter gauge, insertion site, therapy type, and expected flow requirements.

Usage Guidelines

• Use only by trained healthcare professionals following accepted aseptic technique.
• Select the catheter gauge and length based on patient condition, vein quality, therapy requirements, and facility protocol.
• Inspect the sterile packaging before use and do not use if the package is open, damaged, or compromised.
• Prepare the insertion site according to institutional infection prevention standards.
• Insert, advance, secure, flush, and dress the catheter according to the manufacturers instructions and clinical policy.
• Dispose of the needle and all sharps immediately in an approved sharps container after use.
• Monitor the IV site regularly for infiltration, phlebitis, leakage, dislodgement, pain, swelling, redness, or other complications.

Certifications and Safety Standards

The Smiths Medical 326500 ViaValve IV Safety Catheter is manufactured for professional medical use and should be handled in accordance with applicable healthcare regulations, institutional policies, infection control practices, and sharps safety requirements. The safety catheter design supports clinical efforts to reduce accidental needlestick injuries and improve staff protection during peripheral IV procedures.

Facilities should verify current product labeling, packaging details, lot information, expiration date, and manufacturer documentation before use. For regulatory compliance, the catheter should be used only for its intended clinical purpose and in accordance with the official instructions for use.

Comparison with Competitors

Compared with standard non-safety IV catheters, the Smiths Medical 326500 ViaValve IV Safety Catheter provides a safety-focused design that helps support needlestick risk reduction after catheter placement. Its 18G size makes it a practical choice for clinical scenarios where a larger-bore peripheral IV catheter may be preferred.

Compared with many general-purpose IV catheters, the ViaValve design offers a balance of catheter access performance, safety handling, and workflow efficiency. For healthcare teams that prioritize staff protection, reliable IV access, and standardized product selection, this catheter provides a strong option within the Smiths Medical IV access portfolio.

Typical User Profile and Application Scenarios

This product is commonly used by nurses, emergency department clinicians, anesthesia teams, infusion therapy professionals, surgical staff, outpatient care teams, and other trained healthcare providers responsible for peripheral IV access. It is suitable for facilities that require dependable IV catheter options for routine, urgent, or procedure-based patient care.

Typical application scenarios may include emergency venous access, preoperative IV placement, fluid replacement, medication administration, contrast-related preparation where clinically appropriate, and general inpatient or outpatient IV therapy. The 18G size should be selected only when clinically appropriate for the patient and intended therapy.

Best Practices for Use and Maintenance

• Store the catheter in a clean, dry, temperature-controlled supply area according to facility guidelines.
• Rotate stock using first-expiring, first-out inventory management to reduce waste.
• Confirm the correct product, gauge, length, and expiration date before opening the package.
• Use sterile technique during insertion and follow facility policy for catheter securement and dressing changes.
• Document catheter placement, site condition, gauge, date, time, and any relevant patient response according to facility requirements.
• Assess the IV site routinely and remove or replace the catheter when clinically indicated or required by protocol.

Regulatory and Safety Information

The Smiths Medical 326500 ViaValve IV Safety Catheter is intended for professional healthcare use. It should not be reused, resterilized, or used if packaging integrity is compromised. All used needles, catheters, and contaminated materials should be disposed of according to biomedical waste and sharps disposal regulations.

Patient assessment is required before catheter selection. Clinicians should follow facility policy for peripheral IV insertion, securement, flushing, maintenance, complication management, and removal. Any adverse event, device concern, or product performance issue should be reported through the appropriate clinical and manufacturer reporting channels.

How to Order

Select the Smiths Medical 326500 CATHETER, SAFETY. VIAVALVE, IV, 18'X1 1/4", EACH and add it to your cart. Complete checkout with your preferred shipping and payment options. For bulk orders, quotes, or further assistance, contact CIA Medical customer service at (312)275-5850 or use the contact form on this page.