It’s one of the most common medical procedures in hospitals around the world.

So why are millions of patients every year getting needled with catheters in places that aren't recommended, and left unused and unmonitored, risking painful malfunctions and infection?

Two-thirds of intravenous catheters are inserted in non-recommended areas, including elbow creases. Credit:Alamy

Two in three peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVCs) are inserted into areas not recommended by international guidelines or risk failing before patients get the treatment they need, a major international study shows.

The cannulas - used to give infusions of medications, pain relief, hydration fluids, blood products and nutrients - are inserted into hands, wrists and elbow creases instead of the recommended veins in the forearm, found the Australian-led review of 40,620 PIVCs across 51 countries.