Tunneled vascular access surgery in pediatric oncology; Experience from a national pediatric oncology center

Abstract

Central venous access is essential in the treatment of children diagnosed with cancer. Therefore, as a paediatric oncologist/surgeon, it is important to identify the most optimal central venous catheter (CVC) for each patient, to accurately perform CVC surgery and to be aware of the possible complications that can occur and how to prevent and treat them. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of recommendations for CVC choice, methods for tunneled CVC surgery and strategies for perioperative complication treatment. This is based on the experience of the surgeons from our national paediatric oncology center in the Netherlands, inserting 700 CVCs each year.

Keywords

• Pediatric
• Oncology access
• Vascular access
• Tunneled