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[Epidemiological features and complications of central venous catheters in pediatric oncology: prospective study
H Boussen1, M H Mtaallah, T Bouzid
1Service de carcinologie médicale, institut Salah-Azaïz, 1006, boulevard du 9-Avril, Tunis, Tunisie. hamouda.boussen@rns.tn
Insights
Implantable venous access devices significantly reduce complications in pediatric oncology patients compared to external catheters. These devices improve care quality and longevity for children undergoing cancer treatment.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Vascular Access Devices
- Cancer Treatment Complications
Background:
- Central venous catheters (CVCs) are crucial for administering chemotherapy and supportive care in pediatric oncology.
- Managing CVCs involves risks of early and late complications impacting patient outcomes.
- Evaluating the safety and efficacy of different CVC types is essential for optimizing pediatric cancer care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To document the indications for CVC insertion in Tunisian pediatric oncology patients.
- To analyze early and late catheter-related complications associated with CVC use.
- To compare the performance of exteriorized catheters versus implantable sites.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study conducted in a pediatric oncology unit from 1989 to 2005.
- Inclusion of 115 pediatric patients (58 girls, 57 boys) with various cancers.
- Placement and monitoring of central venous catheters, differentiating between exteriorized (EC) and implantable sites (IS).
Main Results:
- 123 CVCs were successfully placed, with 43 exteriorized and 80 connected to implantable sites.
- Early complications included pneumothorax (3.2%) and arterial punctures (4.8%).
- Late complications primarily involved infection (5.7%), with implantable sites demonstrating a significantly longer mean catheter life (305.2 days vs. 64.4 days).
Conclusions:
- Implantable venous access sites represent a significant advancement in pediatric oncology care.
- These devices enhance the quality of venous access and reduce complications in children with cancer.
- The study highlights the benefits of implantable sites for long-term venous access in this population.
Objective:
To report the indications and early and late catheter-related complications in a Tunisian unit of paediatric oncology.
Patients And Methods:
This prospective study has been performed in a paediatric oncology unit of the Salah Azaïz Institute between 1989 and 2005. It concerns 58 girls and 57 boys with a median age of 7.9 years(4 months to 18 years) treated for cancer disease predominantly lymphoma (22%), sarcoma (23.2%) or leukaemia (8.5%) proposed for insertion of a central venous catheter (CVC).
Results:
Excluding 2 insertion failures (1.6%), we placed 123 CVC (double for 10 patients), 43 (35%) exteriorised (EC) and 80 (65%) connected to an implantable site (IS). Catheters were placed in the subclavian vein in 59.2% of cases vs 32% for internal jugular vein and 8.8% for femoral vein. Early complications included 15 cases of multiple punctures (12%), 4 cases of pneumothorax (3.2%) and 6 of arterial punctures (4.8%) originating a cervical subcutaneous haematoma in 1 patient (0.8%). Late complications were represented by infection in 7 cases (5.7%). We observed 2 cases of intracardiac catheter migration due to catheter disconnection from the IS (1.6%) and 2 cases of thrombosis (1.8%). The mean life of CVC was longer for IS (305.2 days) than for EC (64.4 days).
Conclusion:
Implantable sites are effective progress for venous access in children with cancer. They improved the quality of care in pediatric oncology.
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