Guidewire replacement of tunneled central venous catheters in children reusing the same subcutaneous route

Tunneled centrally inserted central venous catheters (CICCs) are a type of catheters used especially in cancer pediatric patients or affected from short bowel disease and malabsorption. Recently, thanks to biomedical research progresses, polyurethane catheters have resulted in high surgical performances with a low caliber but extremely fast infusion rate. Sometimes the replacement procedure over a Seldinger guidewire could be an appreciable technique especially reusing the same vein and the same tunnel of the previous catheter, with local anesthesia. The aim of this article was to explain our replacement technique over guidewire of tunneled CICCs on pediatric patients.

The casuistry presented was evaluated at the Unit of Vascular Access of ASST Spedali Civili in Brescia, Italy. The study involved 7 successful catheter replacement over guidewire, meanwhile cases where patients presented sepsis, exit site infection or catheter damage were premeditatedly excluded. Three of them were tunneled and cuffed. Five catheters were in brachiocephalic vein and 2 in internal jugular vein.

Every procedure was ended without complications. Of seven patients, five of them underwent to the procedure only with local anesthesia and 2 patients require premedication with Midazolam. No one required general anesthesia. The maneuver was always conducted following the same procedure without noticing particular complications associated with CICC insertion. Indeed, the operation was quick, feasible and safe. Septic, thromboembolic, or hemorrhagic complications also related to patients presenting dysfunctional coagulation cascade were not encountered.

Our experience regarding the replacement technique of tunneled catheters over guidewire was considered feasible, accurate and efficient for all patients treated, even in those presenting thrombocytopenia or dysfunctional coagulation cascade.