Implantable central venous access device in infants: Long-term results

The management of central venous access device (CVAD) is extremely difficult in babies and small infants (BSI). We therefore compared the long-term results and complications of CVAD in BSI with those in children.

One hundred and twenty patients were divided into two groups as follows: age <1 year or weight <10 kg (group A; 25 patients); and age ≧1 year and weight ≧10 kg (group B; 95 patients). The clinical results were retrospectively compared between the groups.

Mean age and weight were 12.5 ± 5.9 months and 8.2 ± 1.2 kg in group A, and 78.8 ± 58.9 months and 20.9 ± 13.6 kg in group B. Operation time was 57 ± 29 min in group A and 52 ± 21 min in group B (P = 0.38). The catheter was advanced with difficulty into the central vein in five and in 16 patients (P = 0.77), and surgical complications occurred in one and in seven patients in groups A and B, respectively (P > 0.99). The CVAD remained in place for 627 ± 494 and 550 ± 414 days (P = 0.47) and was removed before treatment completion in five and in 14 patients in groups A and B, respectively (P = 0.54).

The clinical results for CVAD in BSI did not differ from those in children. CVAD are useful and safe for the treatment of BSI with serious diseases.