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Determination of complication rate of PICC lines in oncological patients
Ghulam Haider1, Shiyam Kumar, Basit Salam
1Oncology Department of Medicine, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
Objective:
To determine the complication rate of (PICCs) peripherally inserted central catheters in cancer patients with a 1 year prospective cohort study.
Methods:
All PICCs inserted in adult cancer patients in Radiology Department of The Aga Khan University Hospital were followed prospectively till removed or patient expired and pattern of complications noted.
Results:
One hundred and fourty six PICCs were inserted over a period of 1 year and followed for a total of 3329 catheter-days; median placement, 14 days: range 3-218 days. Of these 67 (32.8%) PICCs were complicated and removed earlier, for a rate of 14.4/1000 PICC-days. Patients with haematologic malignancies were more likely to have complications as compared to those with solid tissue malignancies.
Conclusions:
Despite a significant complication rate, PICCs are a relatively safe and cost effective method of establishing central venous access.
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