[Use of peripherally inserted multilumen catheters as an alternative to central venous access]

In the last decade alternatives to central venous lines in critically ill children have been developed. Multilumen catheters have classically been used through central venous access but there are no reports on their use as peripherally inserted central lines.

We performed a retrospective study of patients admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit in the previous 3 years who underwent catheterization with peripherally inserted central venous lines. The catheters were four French, double-lumen and 30-cm long.

Twenty-two catheters were used in 22 children (mean age: 8.3 years; range 1.7-13.8). The catheters remained in place for a mean of 7.2 days. Ninety percent of the catheters were placed in antecubital veins. The catheters were used to administer antibiotics (59 %), other drugs (81 %), total parenteral nutrition (50 %) and blood (9 %). Central venous pressure monitoring was performed in eight patients. Complications were found in five patients (22 %): three cases of phlebitis, one catheter occlusion and one infection at the site of insertion. No significant differences were found in the complication rate between peripherally inserted catheters and 298 central venous catheters inserted in our unit in the same time period.

Peripherally inserted multilumen catheters may be an alternative in the management of critically-ill pediatric patients.