Indications and complications of central venous catheters in hematologic oncology: report of 81 cases
Abdelkefi, A.; Ladeb, S.; Ben Othman, T.; Torjman, L.; Jeddi, R.; Ben Hassen, A.; Ben Abdeladhim, A.
La Tunisie Medicale 78(11): 641-647
2000
ISSN/ISBN: 0041-4131 PMID: 11155387 Document Number: 522742
From february 1998 to july 1999, 81 central venous catheters were placed in 41 patients 28 years old (5 to 51 years). We used the subclavicular anatomic way (Aubaniac) in all cases. The total duration of catheter placement was 2905 days (median of 31 days, range 1 to 165 days). We observed 1 pneumothorax (1.2%), 3 venous thrombosis (3.7%) and 1 arterial puncture (1.2%). Catheter-related infections were seen in 8 catheters (2.7 per 1000 catheter-days). Candida was encountered in 4 cases (50%), Gram-positive cocci in 2 cases (25%), and Gram-negative bacilli in 2 cases (25%). The improvement of preventive ways, diagnosis techniques (simultaneous quantitative cultures, differential positivity time), and therapeutic methods (treatment without removal of the catheter, antibiotic lock technique, catheter exchange by guidewire) should allow a better treatment of catheter-related infections.