Vascular access for home intravenous therapy in children

Risk factors for peripherally inserted central venous catheter complications in children

IMPORTANCE

Peripherally inserted central venous catheters (PICCs) are prone to infectious, thrombotic, and mechanical complications. These complications are associated with morbidity, so data are needed to inform quality improvement efforts.

OBJECTIVES

To characterize the epidemiology of and to identify risk factors for complications necessitating removal of PICCs in children.

DESIGN

Cohort study.

SETTING

Johns Hopkins Children's Center, Baltimore, Maryland.

PARTICIPANTS

Hospitalized children who had a PICC inserted outside of the neonatal intensive care unit (ICU) from January 1, 2003, through December 31, 2009.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Complications necessitating PICC removal as recorded by the PICC Team.

RESULTS

During the study period, 2574 PICCs were placed in 1807 children. Complications necessitating catheter removal occurred in 534 PICCs (20.8%) during 46 021 catheter-days (11.6 complications per 1000 catheter-days). These included accidental dislodgement (4.6%), infection (4.3%), occlusion (3.7%), local infiltration (3.0%), leakage (1.5%), breakage (1.4%), phlebitis (1.2%), and thrombosis (0.5%). From 2003 to 2009, complications decreased by 15% per year (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 0.85; 95% CI, 0.81-0.89). In adjusted analysis, all noncentral PICC tip locations-midline (IRR 4.59, 95% CI, 3.69-5.69), midclavicular (2.15; 1.54-2.98), and other (3.26; 1.72-6.15)-compared with central tip location were associated with an increased risk of complications. Pediatric ICU exposure and age younger than 1 year were independently associated with complications necessitating PICC removal.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Noncentral PICC tip locations, younger age, and pediatric ICU exposure were independent risk factors for complications necessitating PICC removal. Despite reductions in PICC complications, further efforts are needed to prevent PICC-associated complications in children.

Surgically assisted trans-hepatic anterior approach for central venous catheter placement: safety and efficacy

We describe a child dependent on parenteral nutrition who developed loss of all conventional central venous catheter insertion sites coupled with very unusual collateralization due to extensive thrombosis of both the superior and inferior vena cava, including the azygos vein. We successfully achieved trans-hepatic anterior access to the infra-diaphragmatic vena cava. Since the success rate for this technique is low due to catheter dislodgement, the procedure was surgically assisted for increased safety and efficacy.

Home intravenous therapy: Accessibility for Canadian children and youth

The administration of intravenous (IV) therapy at home is an alternative to hospitalization for treatment of infection and a number of other conditions, and has been demonstrated to be effective and safe, to reduce cost and to improve quality of life. While home IV therapy has many advantages for children, it is not uniformly available and access may be limited by age, geographical location and ability to pay. Physicians caring for children need to be aware of the indications for home IV therapy, its requirements and limitations, as well as whether this option is available for children in their care. Where access is limited, physicians should advocate for home IV therapy for children when it is medically indicated.