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A single institution observational study of early mechanical complications in central venous catheters (valved and open-ended) in children with cancer

Pediatric Surgery International volume 20, pages 704–707 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

The use of indwelling central venous catheters (CVCs) has become essential for managing children undergoing cancer treatment. Various types of CVCs are available, but reports on complications observed in pediatric series are scarce. We describe our experience concerning early mechanical complications at our institute by providing a prospective evaluation of three types of CVCs that were inserted over a 39-month period. Between January 1, 2000, and March 31, 2003, double-lumen (DL) or single-lumen (SL) Hickman-Broviac (HB) and single-lumen pressure-activated safety-valved (PASV) catheters were inserted and prospectively evaluated. Five groups of possible mechanical complications were defined a priori: dislodgement, migration, rupture, accidental removal, and blockage. We took into consideration complications occurring only within the first 30 days of insertion. A total of 272 CVCs (118 PASV, 57 DL-HB, and 97 SL-HB) were inserted in 232 children. A total of 29 early mechanical complications (10.7% of all CVCs) were diagnosed: 15.2% of the PASV, 10.5% of the DL-HB, and 4.1% of the SL-HB. Elective removal of the catheter due to complications was required in eight patients. SL-HB catheters had fewer complications, while the complication rate and the number of devices that were removed were significantly higher in patients with PASV catheters. We conclude that catheter type correlates with the risk of early mechanical complications and removal.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Mr. Felice Savelli for developing the software.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatric Surgery, G. Gaslini Children’s Hospital, Genoa, Italy

    Giuseppe Fratino, Claudio Carlini, Cinzia Mazzola & Vincenzo Jasonni

  2. Department of Infectious Diseases, G. Gaslini Children’s Hospital, Genoa, Italy

    Elio Castagnola

  3. Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Thrombosis and Hemostasis Unit, G. Gaslini Children’s Hospital, Largo G.Gaslini, 5, 16147 , Genoa, Italy

    Angelo Claudio Molinari

  4. Epidemiology and Biostatistics Section, Scientific Directorate, G. Gaslini Children’s Hospital, Genoa, Italy

    Riccardo Haupt

Authors
  1. Giuseppe Fratino
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  2. Elio Castagnola
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  3. Claudio Carlini
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  4. Cinzia Mazzola
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  5. Vincenzo Jasonni
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  6. Angelo Claudio Molinari
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  7. Riccardo Haupt
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Angelo Claudio Molinari.

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Fratino, G., Castagnola, E., Carlini, C. et al. A single institution observational study of early mechanical complications in central venous catheters (valved and open-ended) in children with cancer. Ped Surgery Int 20, 704–707 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00383-004-1279-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00383-004-1279-3

Keywords

  • Central venous catheters
  • Early mechanical complications
  • Children