A 1-Year Study on Association between Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter Tip Position and Complications in...

A peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) is required in preterm neonates, especially those with low birth weight. However, PICC is associated with various complications resulting in increased morbidity and mortality. The objective of the study was to evaluate the association between PICC tip position and complications in neonates.

One hundred neonates were recruited in a 1-year hospital-based, longitudinal, observational study. Radiographs were obtained to confirm the position of the catheter tip as central or noncentral in relation to vertebral level (T9-L5). The variables studied included site of insertion, duration of stay of PICC, time of removal, reason for removal, and associated complications. These were compared between the groups using SPSS version 20. Fisher's exact test was used to find the associations.

Most of the neonates were preterm (78%) and 81% were low birth weight. Catheter was placed in the right lower limb in most of the neonates (85%), and the catheter tip was central in position in 84% of neonates. The incidence of complications was observed in 29%. Noninfectious complications were common (26%) compared to infectious (3%). The most frequent PICC-induced complication was phlebitis (11%). Incidence of complications (P = 0.020), especially occlusion (P = 0.008), was significantly higher in neonates with noncentral catheter tip compared to the central tip.

We observed a high incidence of PICC-induced complications in neonates, with phlebitis being most common. Further, the incidence of complications is influenced by noncentral tip position.