An intravenous catheter apparatus comprising: a tubular catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, mounted to a catheter hub; a needle defining an axial direction having a needle shaft with a needle tip at a distal end and a needle hub mounted to the proximal end of the needle shaft; and a needle guard arranged movably on the needle shaft, wherein said needle guard comprises: a base portion having a needle passage extending in an axial direction from a proximal side of the base portion through the base portion to a distal side of the base portion, first and second arms extending substantially in the axial direction from the distal side of the base portion, and a distal wall which is transversely arranged at a distal region of the first arm; wherein said needle shaft extends through said tubular catheter such that said needle tip of said needle protrudes from said distal end of said tubular catheter; and wherein said needle shaft is provided with: an engagement means adapted to engage with said needle guard in order to prevent said needle guard from sliding off said needle tip, wherein said engagement means comprises a crimped portion of said needle shaft; and at least two lateral openings covered by said tubular catheter, characterized in that said at least two lateral openings comprise a slit cut into said needle shaft in said axial direction, wherein the at least two lateral openings are arranged along the circumference of the needle shaft in a direction transverse to said axial direction, wherein said at least two lateral openings are arranged on the needle shaft out of the path of the first and second arms (32, 34) of the needle guard in the axial direction when the needle is retracted, and wherein said engagement means is arranged between said at least two lateral openings and said needle tip, or wherein the at least two lateral openings are arranged between said engagement means and said needle tip. a tubular catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, mounted to a catheter hub; a needle defining an axial direction having a needle shaft with a needle tip at a distal end and a needle hub mounted to the proximal end of the needle shaft; and a needle guard arranged movably on the needle shaft, wherein said needle guard comprises: a base portion having a needle passage extending in an axial direction from a proximal side of the base portion through the base portion to a distal side of the base portion, first and second arms extending substantially in the axial direction from the distal side of the base portion, and a distal wall which is transversely arranged at a distal region of the first arm; wherein said needle shaft extends through said tubular catheter such that said needle tip of said needle protrudes from said distal end of said tubular catheter; and wherein said needle shaft is provided with: an engagement means adapted to engage with said needle guard in order to prevent said needle guard from sliding off said needle tip, wherein said engagement means comprises a crimped portion of said needle shaft; and at least two lateral openings covered by said tubular catheter, characterized in that said at least two lateral openings comprise a slit cut into said needle shaft in said axial direction, wherein the at least two lateral openings are arranged along the circumference of the needle shaft in a direction transverse to said axial direction, wherein said at least two lateral openings are arranged on the needle shaft out of the path of the first and second arms (32, 34) of the needle guard in the axial direction when the needle is retracted, and wherein said engagement means is arranged between said at least two lateral openings and said needle tip, or wherein the at least two lateral openings are arranged between said engagement means and said needle tip. a base portion having a needle passage extending in an axial direction from a proximal side of the base portion through the base portion to a distal side of the base portion, first and second arms extending substantially in the axial direction from the distal side of the base portion, and a distal wall which is transversely arranged at a distal region of the first arm; wherein said needle shaft extends through said tubular catheter such that said needle tip of said needle protrudes from said distal end of said tubular catheter; and wherein said needle shaft is provided with: an engagement means adapted to engage with said needle guard in order to prevent said needle guard from sliding off said needle tip, wherein said engagement means comprises a crimped portion of said needle shaft; and at least two lateral openings covered by said tubular catheter, characterized in that an engagement means adapted to engage with said needle guard in order to prevent said needle guard from sliding off said needle tip, wherein said engagement means comprises a crimped portion of said needle shaft; and at least two lateral openings covered by said tubular catheter, characterized in that said at least two lateral openings comprise a slit cut into said needle shaft in said axial direction, wherein the at least two lateral openings are arranged along the circumference of the needle shaft in a direction transverse to said axial direction, wherein said at least two lateral openings are arranged on the needle shaft out of the path of the first and second arms (32, 34) of the needle guard in the axial direction when the needle is retracted, and wherein said engagement means is arranged between said at least two lateral openings and said needle tip, or wherein the at least two lateral openings are arranged between said engagement means and said needle tip.