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Prospective observational study on the complications and tolerability of a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) in neuro-oncological patients

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Abstract

Purpose

The use of central venous catheters with peripheral insertion (PICC) has increased rapidly in recent years, particularly in cancer patients. The benefits provided may occasionally be affected by relevant complications, such as infections and thrombotic events, especially in neuro-oncological patients. To date, the risk of PICC-related complications in this subset of patients is unknown, as is tolerability. As a primary objective, this study aimed to collect complications related to PICCs in primary neuro-oncological patients. As a secondary objective, the study aimed to evaluate PICC tolerability.

Methods

Neuro-oncological patients with PICCs that were placed as part of normal clinical practice at IRCCS Neurologico C. Besta were consecutively enrolled in the study. PICC-related complications were recorded immediately (during the procedure), early (within 1 week after PICC insertion), and late (1–3-5 months after PICC placement). At the same time points, all patients were also evaluated for tolerability through interviews with semi-structured, open-ended questions.

Results

Sixty patients were enrolled (41 males and 19 females, with a median age of 56.2 years). Excluding loss to follow-up, 33/49 patients developed at least one complication related to the PICC. Immediate complications mainly included hematoma (8), accidental arterial puncture (4), and primary malpositioning (3). Regarding early and late complications, 3 device-related infections, 8 thrombotic events, and 20 mechanical complications were registered. Semi-structured interviews revealed an overall positive experience with the device. The most negative impact was on hygiene habits, with 34 patients becoming caregiver-dependent. Over time, almost all patients became used to the device and perceived greater security during chemotherapy. A strongly negative issue was the difficulty of relying on competently trained healthcare personnel in outpatient setting.

Conclusion

The results showed a nonnegligible increased thromboembolic risk in neuro-oncological patients with PICCs, almost double that in historical oncological populations. It is essential to extend the study to a greater number of patients to achieve reliable results and to identify patients at high risk. The device seems to be positively accepted by the majority of patients, without affecting activities of daily living.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neuro-oncology Unit, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Celoria, 11, 20133, Milan, Italy

    G. Simonetti, P. Gaviani & A. Silvani

  2. Department of Neuro-anesthesia, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Celoria, 11, 20133, Milan, Italy

    A. Sommariva

  3. Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

    M. Lusignani

  4. Neurology VIII-Molecular Neuro-Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Celoria, 11, 20133, Milan, Italy

    E. Anghileri & M. Eoli

  5. Neuroradiology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Celoria, 11, 20133, Milan, Italy

    C. Basso Ricci

  6. Department of Research and Clinical Development, Scientific Directorate, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Celoria, 11, 20133, Milan, Italy

    A. V. Fittipaldo & I. Tramacere

  7. S.I.T.R.A, Fondazione IRCCS Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Celoria, 11, 20133, Milan, Italy

    C. Moreschi

  8. S.I.T.R.A, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Via Venezian 1, 20133, Milan, Italy

    S. Togni

Authors
  1. G. Simonetti
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  2. A. Sommariva
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  3. M. Lusignani
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  4. E. Anghileri
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  5. C. Basso Ricci
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  6. M. Eoli
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  7. A. V. Fittipaldo
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  8. P. Gaviani
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  9. C. Moreschi
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  10. S. Togni
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  11. I. Tramacere
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  12. A. Silvani
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to G. Simonetti.

Ethics declarations

All human studies have been approved by the appropriate ethics committee and have therefore been performed in accordance with the ethical standards laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki. All participants gave their informed consent prior to their inclusion in the study.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Simonetti, G., Sommariva, A., Lusignani, M. et al. Prospective observational study on the complications and tolerability of a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) in neuro-oncological patients. Support Care Cancer 28, 2789–2795 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-019-05128-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-019-05128-x

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