Totally implantable central venous access devices in children with hemato-oncologic malignancies: evaluation of complications and comparison of incidence of febrile episodes with similar patients without central venous access devices

The Evaluation of Central Venous Catheter-related Complications in Pediatric Acute Leukemia Patients: Single Center Experience

Central venous catheters (CVCs) are important for maintenance of childhood leukemia treatment but CVCs may develop complications. The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the CVC-related complication rate, complication types, and outcome in children with acute leukemia. Complications developing in 310 CVCs (ports n=250, Hickman catheters n=60) inserted in 262 patients were evaluated. A total of 225,296 catheter days were screened. Median (range) CVC in-dwelling time was 661.5 (1 to 2636) days. In total, 157 complications developed of which 91 (58%) were infectious complications, 35 (22.3%) were vascular, 19 (12.1%) were surgical, and 12 (7.6%) were mechanical. Hickman catheters had a higher complication rate and were more prone to mechanical complications ( P <0.01) but there was no difference for other complications. A lower absolute neutrophil count at insertion was observed in children with infectious complications ( P <0.01). Seventy-eight of 136 catheters (57.3%) had to be removed prematurely. The overall complication rate was 0.65 per 1000 catheter days. In multivariate analysis, relapse leukemia, Hickman catheter and low absolute neutrophil count increased complication risk by 4.00, 1.97, and 1.92 times, respectively. Five (1.9%) deaths occurred because of catheter complications. Safe use of CVCs can be improved by early detection of complications and an experienced catheter care team.

Prophylactic antibiotics for preventing gram-positive infections associated with long-term central venous catheters in adults and children receiving treatment for cancer

BACKGROUND

This is an updated version of a Cochrane Review last published in 2013. Long-term central venous catheters (CVCs), including tunnelled CVCs (TCVCs) and totally implanted devices or ports (TIDs), are increasingly used when treating people with cancer. Despite international guidelines on sterile insertion and appropriate CVC maintenance and use, infections remain a common complication. These infections are mainly caused by gram-positive bacteria. Antimicrobial prevention strategies aimed at these micro-organisms could potentially decrease the majority of CVC-related infections. The aim of this review was to evaluate the efficacy of prophylactic antibiotics for the prevention of gram-positive infections in people with cancer who have long-term CVCs.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effects of administering antibiotics prior to the insertion of long-term CVCs or as a flush/lock solution, or both during long-term CVC access to prevent gram-positive CVC-related infections in adults and children receiving treatment for cancer.

SEARCH METHODS

The search for this updated review was conducted on 19 November 2020. We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) in the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE via Ovid and Embase via Ovid. We searched ClinicalTrials.gov and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform portal for additional articles.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that compared either the administration of prophylactic antibiotics prior to long-term CVC insertion versus no administration of antibiotics, or the use of an antibiotic versus a non-antibiotic flush/lock solution in long-term CVCs, in adults and children receiving treatment for cancer.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We used standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane. Two authors independently selected studies, classified them and extracted data onto a predesigned data collection form. The outcomes of interest were gram-positive catheter-related infection events and total number of CVCs and CVC days. We pooled the data using a random-effects model for meta-analyses. We used the GRADE approach to assess the certainty of the evidence.  MAIN RESULTS: For this update, we identified 310 potentially relevant studies and screened them for eligibility. We included one additional RCT with 404 participants. The original review included 11 RCTs with a total of 840 people with cancer (adults and children). In total this review included 12 RCTs with 1244 participants. Antibiotics prior to insertion of the CVC Six trials compared the use of antibiotics (vancomycin, teicoplanin, ceftazidime or cefazolin) versus no antibiotics given before the insertion of a long-term CVC. One study did not observe any CVC-related infection events in either group was not included in the quantitative analysis as it was not possible to calculate a risk ratio. Administering an antibiotic prior to insertion of the CVC may not reduce gram-positive CVC-related infections (pooled risk ratio 0.67, confidence interval (CI) 95% 0.32 to 1.43; control versus intervention group risk 10.4% versus 7.3% of the participants; 5 studies, 648 participants; moderate-certainty evidence). We sought adverse event data, but these were not described by the authors. The overall risk of bias was deemed low.   Antibiotics as a flushing or locking solution Six trials compared a combined antibiotic (vancomycin, amikacin or taurolidine) and heparin solution with a heparin-only solution for flushing or locking the long-term CVC after use. One study did not observe any CRS events and was not include this study in the quantitative analysis as it was not possible to calculate a risk ratio. Flushing and locking long-term CVCs with a combined antibiotic and heparin solution likely reduced the risk of gram-positive CVC-related infections compared to a heparin-only solution (pooled rate ratio 0.47, CI 95% 0.26 to 0.85; control versus intervention group rate ratio 0.66 versus 0.27 per 1000 CVC-days; 5 studies, 443 participants; moderate-certainty evidence). One trial reported a higher incidence of occlusions and participants in one trial reported an unpleasant taste after flushing associated with a combined antibiotic and heparin solution. The overall risk of bias was deemed low.  AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Since the last version of this review, we included one additional study. There was no observed benefit of administering antibiotics before the insertion of long-term CVCs to prevent gram-positive CVC-related infections. Flushing or locking long-term CVCs with an antibiotic solution likely reduces gram-positive CVC-related infections experienced in people at risk of neutropenia through chemotherapy or disease. However, a limitation of this review is heterogeneity between the studies for both outcomes. Insufficient data were available to evaluate if the conclusions apply equally for different CVC types and for adults versus children. It must be noted that the use of an antibiotic flush/lock solution may increase microbial antibiotic resistance, therefore it should be reserved for high-risk people or if the baseline CVC-related infection rates are high. Further research is needed to identify high-risk groups most likely to benefit from these antibiotic flush/lock solutions.

Incidence, severity and outcome of central line related complications in pediatric oncology patients; A single center study

BACKGROUND

Central venous access device (CVAD)-related complications are associated with high morbidity rates. This study was performed to underline the importance of CVAD-complication prevention and treatment.

METHODS

An audit of practice of CVAD-related complications in pediatric oncology patients receiving a CVAD between January 2015 and June 2017 was performed. CVADs included were totally implantable venous access ports (TIVAPs), Hickman-Broviac® (HB), nontunneled, and peripherally inserted CVADs.

RESULTS

A total of 201 children, with 307 CVADs, were analyzed. The incidence rates per 1000 CVAD-days for the most common complications were 1.66 for malfunctions, and 1.51 for central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs). Of all CVADs inserted, 37.1% were removed owing to complications, of which 45.6% were owing to CLABSIs. In 42% of the CLABSIs, the CLABSI could be successfully cured with systemic antibiotic treatment only. Of all included patients, 5.0% were admitted to the intensive care unit owing to CLABSI. The HB-CVAD compared to the TIVAP was a risk factor for CVAD-related complications, CLABSIs and dislocations in particular.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of CVAD-related complications is high. Research on the prevention and treatment of CVAD-related complications in pediatric oncology patients should be a high priority for all health care professionals.

TYPE OF STUDY

Prognosis study (retrospective).

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level II.

Late complications of totally implantable venous access ports in patients with cancer: Risk factors and related nursing strategies

The aim of this study was to assess the incidence rate and the risk factors for late complications associated with use of central totally implanted venous access devices (TIVAPs) in patients with cancer, and to devise nursing strategies to minimize late complications.This retrospective study included 500 patients with TIVAPs from 2012 to 2015. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the effect of sex, age, primary diagnosis, duration of surgery, and the length of hospital stay on the incidence of late complications of TIVAP.The cumulative maintenance period of TIVAP was 159,605 days. Late complications included catheter-related obstruction (n = 14; 2.8%), infection (n = 3; 0.6%), drug extravasation (n = 1; 0.2%), and catheter exposure (n = 1; 0.2%). Multivariate analyses revealed that age, breast cancer, lung cancer, and gastric cancer were risk factors for the late complications associated with TIVAP.There was a low incidence of late complications with TIVAP use. Catheter-related obstruction is the most frequent late complication of TIVAP. Risk factors for TIVAP-associated late complications include age and certain cancers, such as breast cancer, lung cancer, and gastric cancer.

Cohort Study: Central Venous Catheter-Related Complications in Children with Hematologic Diseases at a Single Center

Objective:

This study aims to document and analyze the central venous catheter (CVC)-related complications in children with hematological diseases who were treated within a single institution.

Materials and Methods:

A retrospective investigation was conducted in 106 pediatric patients in whom 203 CVCs were inserted. A total of 175 catheter-related complications occurred in 5 years.

Results:

The rates of clinical catheter infections, local catheter infections, venous thromboembolism, bleeding, and mechanical complications were 2.6, 1.1, 0.2, 0.2, and 0.2 per 1000 catheter days. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis was the predominant infectious organism in blood and catheter cultures. The children with leukemia had a significantly higher frequency of clinical catheter infections (p=0.046). The children who underwent bone marrow transplantation had a significantly lower frequency of clinical catheter infections (p=0.043) and higher frequency of local catheter infections (p=0.003). The children with implanted catheters had a significantly lower frequency of clinical catheter infections (p=0.048). The children with thrombocytopenia had significantly fewer local catheter infections and significantly more clinical catheter infections and catheter-related bleeding (respectively p=0.001, p=0.042, and p=0.024).

Conclusion:

Leukemia, bone marrow transplantation, and thrombocytopenia are risk factors for CVC-associated complications. The relatively higher number of interventions performed via permanent catheters may be responsible for the significantly increased incidence of systemic infections and mechanical injury.

Prophylactic antibiotics for preventing Gram positive infections associated with long-term central venous catheters in oncology patients

BACKGROUND

This is an updated version of the review which was first published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews in 2006. Long-term central venous catheters (CVCs), including tunnelled CVCs (TCVCs) and totally implanted devices or ports (TIDs), are increasingly used when treating oncology patients. Despite international guidelines on sterile insertion and appropriate CVC maintenance and use, infection remains a common complication. These infections are mainly caused by Gram positive bacteria. Antimicrobial prevention strategies aimed at these micro-organisms could potentially decrease the majority of CVC infections. The aim of this review was to evaluate the efficacy of antibiotics in the prevention of Gram positive infections in long-term CVCs.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the efficacy of administering antibiotics prior to the insertion of long-term CVCs, or flushing or locking long-term CVCs with a combined antibiotic and heparin solution, or both, to prevent Gram positive catheter-related infections in adults and children receiving treatment for cancer.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (to June 2013) and the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases (1966 to 2013).

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing prophylactic antibiotics given prior to long-term CVC insertion with no antibiotics, RCTs comparing a combined antibiotic and heparin solution with a heparin-only solution to flush or lock newly inserted long-term CVCs, and RCTs comparing a combination of these interventions in adults and children receiving treatment for cancer.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two authors independently selected studies, classified them and extracted data on to a pre-designed data collection form. We pooled data using the RevMan software version 5.2 and used random-effects (RE) model methods for meta-analyses.

MAIN RESULTS

We included 11 trials with a total of 828 oncology patients (adults and children). We assessed most included studies to be at a low or unclear risk of bias. Five trials compared the use of antibiotics (vancomycin, teicoplanin or ceftazidime) given before the insertion of the long-term CVC with no antibiotics, and six trials compared antibiotics (vancomycin, amikacin or taurolidine) and heparin with a heparin-only solution for flushing or locking the long-term CVC after use. Administering an antibiotic prior to insertion of the CVC did not significantly reduce Gram positive catheter-related sepsis (CRS) (five trials, 360 adults; risk ratio (RR) 0.72, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.33 to 1.58; I² = 5 2%; P = 0.41).Flushing and locking long-term CVCs with a combined antibiotic and heparin solution significantly reduced the risk of Gram positive catheter-related sepsis compared with a heparin-only solution (468 participants, mostly children; RR 0.47, 95% CI 0.28 to 0.80; I² = 0%; P = 0.005). For a baseline infection rate of 15%, this reduction translated into a number needed to treat (NNT) of 12 (95% CI 9 to 33) to prevent one catheter-related infection. We considered this evidence to be of a moderate quality.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

There was no benefit to administering antibiotics before the insertion of long-term CVCs to prevent Gram positive catheter-related infections. Flushing or locking long-term CVCs with a combined antibiotic and heparin solution appeared to reduce Gram positive catheter-related sepsis experienced in people at risk of neutropenia through chemotherapy or disease. Due to insufficient data it was not clear whether this applied equally to TCVCs and totally implanted devices (TIDs), or equally to adults and children. The use of a combined antibiotic and heparin solution may increase microbial antibiotic resistance, therefore it should be reserved for high risk people or where baseline CVC infection rates are high (> 15%). Further research is needed to identify high risk groups most likely to benefit.

Totally implantable venous access device in children with cancer lead to disfiguring scar

BACKGROUND

In pediatric cancer patients scars of totally implantable venous access devices (TIVAD) are often widened and hypertrophic. This study report on the prevalence and deviation of abnormal scarring in children with a TIVAD and to describe the influencing factors for this abnormal scarring.

METHODS

In a cross-sectional study scars of 122 childhood cancer patients (age 1-21 years) were evaluated; 72 patients had a TIVAD in-situ and in 50 the TIVAD had been removed. Outcome parameters were hypertrophy (modified Vancouver Scar Scale (mVSS), scar surface area, pain, and itching. Scar abnormality was defined as mVSS of >2, or scar width >3 mm.

RESULTS

Abnormal TIVAD scars were found in 107 participants. The mVSS score was higher in patients ≤45 months after removal and the widest >45 months after TIVAD removal. Multivariable analyses showed that the mVSS score was positively related with scar width (mm) and children being ≤45 months after TIVAD removal. Furthermore, TIVAD scar width was positively related with age at last TIVAD surgery, and associated with suture material. In conclusion, there was a high incidence of abnormal TIVAD scars with some pain and itching complaints. However, no typical cancer related influencing factors were associated with increasing abnormalities.

Catheter-related infections in pediatric patients with cancer

Central venous catheters (CVCs) are essential in the management of pediatric patients receiving antineoplastic therapy or bone marrow transplants, and have significantly improved their quality of life, but CVC-related infectious complications are a major source of morbidity. It has been estimated that 14-51 % of the CVCs implanted in children with malignancies may be complicated by bacteremia, and that the incidence of infections is 1.4-1.9 episodes per 1,000 CVC days. However, there are few recent data concerning the epidemiology of CVC-related infections, the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in their etiology, or the main factors associated with an increased risk of infection by type of catheter, patient age, the type of cancer, or the presence of neutropenia. Moreover, although various new strategies have been proposed in an attempt to reduce the risk of CVC-related infections, such as catheters impregnated with antiseptics/antibiotics, lock antibiotic prophylaxis, the use of ointments at the exit site, and antithrombotic prophylaxis, their real efficacy in children has not yet been demonstrated. The management of CVC-related infections remains difficult, mainly because of the number of still open questions (including the choice of optimal antimicrobial therapy because of the increasing isolation of multiresistant bacterial strains, treatment duration, whether catheters should be removed or not, the feasibility of guidewire exchange, and the usefulness of antibiotic lock therapy) and the lack of studies of children with cancer. Only well-designed, prospective clinical trials involving pediatric cancer patients can clarify optimal prevention and treatment strategies for CVC-related infections in this population.

Skin and soft tissue complications in pediatric leukemia patients with and without central venous catheters

We aimed to retrospectively evaluate the skin and soft tissue complications secondary to procedures in acute leukemia patients with and without catheters. Eighty-seven acute leukemia patients (75 acute lymphoblastic leukemia, 12 acute myeloid leukemia ) were included. There were 30 patients with 37 catheter use (6 port, 31 Hickman catheter) and 57 patients without catheter. In patients with catheters, skin and soft tissue complications were seen in 20 (66%) children. The most frequent complication was cellulitis (55%). In the patients without catheter, skin and soft tissue complications were seen in 37 (65%) patients. Cellulitis (37.8%) and extravasation (37.8%) were the most frequent causes. When the frequency of skin and soft tissue complications in patients with and without catheters were compared with each other, there was statistically no significant difference (P=0.792). The duration of chemotherapy was significantly longer in patients who developed skin and soft tissue complications with or without catheters when compared with the duration of the therapy in patients without any skin and soft tissue complications (259.2+/-36.3 and 218.3+/-58.3 d, respectively; P<0.0001). In pediatric leukemia patients, with or without catheters, skin and soft tissue complications are common and these complications may prolong the duration of chemotherapy.

Prophylactic antibiotics for preventing early central venous catheter Gram positive infections in oncology patients

BACKGROUND

Long-term tunnelled central venous catheters (TCVCs) are increasingly used when treating oncology patients. Despite international guidelines on sterile insertion, appropriate catheter maintenance and use, infections still a complication of TCVC. These infections are mainly caused by Gram-positive bacteria. Antimicrobial prevention strategies aimed at these micro-organisms could potentially decrease the majority of TCVC infections. The aim of this review was to evaluate the efficacy of antibiotics in the prevention of early TCVC infections.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the efficacy of administering antibiotics prior to insertion of a TCVC with or without vancomycin/heparin flush technique in the first 45 days after insertion of the catheter to prevent Gram-positive catheter-related infections in oncology patients.

SEARCH STRATEGY

We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) to July 2006. MEDLINE (1966 to 2006) and EMBASE (1966 to 2006). Reference lists from relevant articles were scanned and conference proceedings were hand searched. The authors of eligible studies were contacted to obtain additional information.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We selected RCTs which administered prophylactic antibiotics prior to insertion of the TCVC, and RCTs using the combination of an antibiotic and heparin to flush the CVC in oncology patients (both adults and children).

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

The studies identified were assessed and the data extracted independently by the two authors. Authors were contacted for details of randomization, and a quality assessment was carried out. The analysis was carried out using the standard Cochrane software package, RevMan 4.2.

MAIN RESULTS

We included nine trials with a total of 588 patients. Four reported on vancomycin/teicoplanin prior to insertion of the TCVC compared to placebo, and five trials reported on antibiotic flushing combined with heparin, compared to heparin flushing only. The overall effect of administering an antibiotic prior to insertion of the catheter decreases the number of Gram positive TCVC infections (odds ratio [OR] = 0.42, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.13 to 1.31), this effect is not significant. Flushing the TCVC with antibiotics and heparin proved to be beneficial (OR = 0.43, 95% CI 0.21 to 0.87). For intraluminal colonization the baseline infection rate is 15% which leads to a number needed to treat (NNT) of 13 (95 % CI 5 to 23).

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Flushing of the catheter with a vanco/heparin lock solution leads to a positive overall effect. Depending on the baseline TCVC infection rate it is justified to flush the catheter with a combination of an antibiotic and heparin, if the catheter related infection-rate is high.