Objective To retrieve, evaluate and summarize the best pertinent evidence on the placement and management of peripheral arterial catheters in critically ill children at home and abroad for clinical references.

Methods A systematic search was conducted in related databases on the evidence of the placement and management of peripheral arterial catheters in critically ill children. The spectrum of eligible documents included clinical decisions, guidelines, evidence summaries, systematic reviews, expert consensuses, and norms. The search period was from the establishment of the databases to April 30,2023. The included literature was limited to English and Chinese languages. The quality of the literature was independently evaluated by evidence-based trained investigators and combined with professional judgment to extract information from the literature that met the quality standards.

Results A total of 18 articles were included, including 3 guidelines, 3 clinical decisions, 8 evidence summaries, 3 systematic reviews and 1 expert consensus. The best evidence included a total of 27 pieces of evidence in 4 areas, namely the assessment of indwelling peripheral arterial catheters, placement of peripheral arterial catheters, maintenance during the duration of indwelling peripheral arterial catheters, and removal.

Conclusion This study summarized the most robust evidence pertaining to the management of peripheral arterial catheters in critically ill children, and provided an evidence-based basis for the standardized placement and management of peripheral arterial catheters in critically ill children. Nursing staff should carefully select and apply evidence according to the actual clinical situation, the wishes of children and parents.