Peripherally inserted central catheters in palliative care patients: Our single-center experience

Abstract

Objectives: In this study, we present our experience in the insertion technique of peripherally inserted central catheters and catheter-related thrombosis. Patients and methods: In this single-center, retrospective study, 19 PICCs inserted in 18 palliative care patients (7 males, 11 females; median age 59 years; range, 24 to 89 years) at Gulhane Training and Research Hospital between January 2017 and December 2019 were analyzed. The main indications for PICCs were parenteral supportive treatments. All procedures were performed under strict aseptic conditions using real-time ultrasound imaging with fluoroscopy guidance. Results: The median dwell time of PICCs was 38 (range, 6 to 202) days. The PICC was left in situ for less than one month in five patients. Mortality and bloodstream infections were the most common causes of removing catheters which remained less than two months. Approximately two-thirds of our patients were on low-molecular-weight heparin, while their catheters were functioning. Conclusion: Appropriate techniques such as determining the appropriate catheter for the vessel to be catheterized, real-time ultrasound during cannulation, and fluoroscopy should be used to minimize the complication risks. [Turk J Vasc Surg 2020; 29(2.000): 115-20]

Keywords

• catheterization
• fluoroscopy
• peripheral
• thrombosis
• ultrasonography