Abstract
During a 21-month period, 50 consecutive pediatric oncology patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation and/or cytoreductive chemotherapy had 61 silastic central venous catheters placed to facilitate their therapy. All catheters were used for medications, routine blood sampling, and transfusions, with 45% also used for hyperalimentation and 57% used for bone marrow transplantation. Catheters were utilized during both inpatient and outpatient therapy periods. Total catheter days numbered 8455, an average of 139 days per catheter. Forty-seven catheters (77%) were removed electively or were in place at time of patient death. Seven were removed for mechanical complications (1/1409 catheter days). Four additional episodes of presumed catheter sepsis were managed with antibiotics and did not require catheter removal (40% of septic episodes). One catheter is still in place after 585 days. Complication rates were not influenced by this multiple use protocol. With standardized catheter care and surveillance, multipurpose, long-term central venous access can be safely utilized in the immunosuppressed pediatric patient. (Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 9:38-41, 1985).
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 38-41 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition |
Volume | 9 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 1985 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine (miscellaneous)
- Nutrition and Dietetics