Central Venous Catheter Insertion in Colorectal Cancer Patients, PICC or PC?

Central venous catheters (CVCs) have been demonstrated as a feasible method for chemotherapy delivery in colorectal cancer patients. The objective of our study was to explore the preference of colorectal cancer patients (89%) in our institution for port catheters (PCs) through comparing the costs and complications between peripherally inserted central venous catheters (PICCs) and PCs.

Overall, 777 colorectal cancer patients (89%) were eligible for central venous catheter (CVC) insertions from January 1, 2017, to January 1, 2019. We retrospectively compared the costs and complications following the introduction of PICCs and PCs in the infusion of intravenous chemotherapy agents in patients with colorectal cancer.

A total of 773 colorectal patients were enrolled. The total cost of PICC and PC was US $436.20 and US $976, respectively. The complication rate was higher in the PICC compared with the PC group (45% versus 4%, P <0.001). The late complication rate of the two groups was particularly pronounced (52% versus 7%, p < 0.001). The incidence rate of total complications, that were developed in patients, with and without hemostatic prophylaxis, was 0.7% versus 5.7% (p < 0.001).

Port devices are associated with higher costs but fewer complications, compared to PICC in patients with colorectal cancer.