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A team-based multidisciplinary approach to managing peripherally inserted central catheter complications in high-risk haematological patients: a prospective study

Supportive Care in Cancer volume 24, pages 93–101 (2016)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

Use of peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) has markedly increased during the last decade. However, there are few studies on use of PICCs in patients with haematological malignancies (HM) receiving intensive chemotherapy. Preliminary data suggest a higher rate of PICC-related complications in these high-risk patients. This prospective observational single-centre study aimed to investigate PICC-related complications after implementation of a multidisciplinary approach to PICC care and compared it with previous literature.

Methods

A total of 44 PICCs were inserted in 36 patients (27.3 %, thrombocytopenia <50 × 109/L at insertion) over 5045 PICC days (median duration, 114.5 days).

Results

No major insertion-related complications were observed. Major late complications were obstruction in 13.6 % (1.19/1000 PICC days) of patients, catheter-related bloodstream infection in 6.8 % (0.59/1000 PICC days), and catheter-related thrombosis in 4.5 % (0.39/1000 PICC days). Premature PICC removal occurred in 34 % (2.97/1000 PICC days) of patients. The overall rate of potentially major dangerous complications was particularly low (11.36 %, 0.99/1000 PICC days) compared with previous studies.

Conclusions

This study highlights the utility of a multidisciplinary approach for PICC care in adults with HM receiving intensive chemotherapy. We provide further data to support use of PICCs in such patient populations.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank all of the patients and their families for participating in the project. We also thank all of the physicians and nurse staff of our Haematology Department who were involved in the care of the patients over the years. We also thank the members from other departments that contributed to the study.

Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest in this study.

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Department of Haematology, University Hospital Príncipe de Asturias, Carretera Alcalá- Meco s/n, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain

    Natalia Curto-García, Julio García-Suárez, Marta Callejas Chavarria, Juan José Gil Fernández, Yolanda Martín Guerrero, Elena Magro Mazo, Shelly Marcellini Antonio, Luis Miguel Juárez, Isabel Gutierrez & Carmen Burgaleta

  2. Nursing Staff of the Haematology Unit, University Hospital Príncipe de Asturias, Carretera Alcalá- Meco s/n, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain

    Juan José Arranz, Irene Montalvo, Carmen Elvira, Pilar Domínguez & María Teresa Díaz

Authors
  1. Natalia Curto-García
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  2. Julio García-Suárez
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  3. Marta Callejas Chavarria
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  4. Juan José Gil Fernández
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  5. Yolanda Martín Guerrero
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  6. Elena Magro Mazo
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  7. Shelly Marcellini Antonio
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  8. Luis Miguel Juárez
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  9. Isabel Gutierrez
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  10. Juan José Arranz
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  11. Irene Montalvo
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  12. Carmen Elvira
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  13. Pilar Domínguez
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  14. María Teresa Díaz
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  15. Carmen Burgaleta
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Natalia Curto-García.

Additional information

Natalia Curto-García and Julio García-Suárez are joint first authors. Natalia Curto-García currently works at the Royal Free Hospital-Barnet Hospital, London, UK.

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Curto-García, N., García-Suárez, J., Callejas Chavarria, M. et al. A team-based multidisciplinary approach to managing peripherally inserted central catheter complications in high-risk haematological patients: a prospective study. Support Care Cancer 24, 93–101 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-015-2754-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-015-2754-1

Keywords

  • Peripherally inserted central catheters
  • Haematological malignancies
  • PICC-related bloodstream infection
  • PICC-related thrombosis