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Peripherally inserted central venous catheters for treatment of cystic fibrosis
Insights
The Drum-Cartridge Catheter offers safe and effective long-term intravenous therapy for cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, enabling repeated use with minimal complications for antibiotic and nutritional support.
Area of Science:
- Medical Devices
- Vascular Access
- Pediatric Care
Background:
- Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients often require prolonged intravenous (IV) therapy during hospitalizations.
- Central venous catheters are commonly used for long-term IV access in these patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the clinical effectiveness and safety of the Drum-Cartridge Catheter for long-term IV therapy in patients with Cystic Fibrosis.
- To assess the catheter's suitability for repeated use and its complication profile.
Main Methods:
- Prospective evaluation of the Drum-Cartridge Catheter in patients over 10 years old requiring IV antibiotic or hyperalimentation therapy.
- Catheter insertion via antecubital vein under local anesthesia, with placement confirmed by chest radiograph.
- Data collection on insertion success rate, duration of use, and complications.
Main Results:
- Successful insertion rate of 86% (31/38), with initial placement in the superior vena cava or right atrium.
- Mean catheter dwell time of 15.4 days (range 5-49 days).
- No major complications (sepsis, embolism, pneumothorax, perforation, hemorrhage) reported; only minor issues like catheter displacement and cracked hub.
Conclusions:
- The Drum-Cartridge Catheter is an effective and safe option for long-term, repeated IV therapy in cystic fibrosis patients.
- The device facilitates administration of antibiotics, hyperalimentation, and lipids with a low rate of significant complications.
Abstract:
Patients who have cystic fibrosis (CF) are frequently hospitalized for long-term intravenous (IV) treatment. We evaluated clinical effectiveness of the Drum-Cartridge Catheter (Abbott Laboratories) for such patients. The catheter is placed peripherally under local anesthesia via an antecubital vein into the superior vena cava or right atrium. Patients who were more than 10 years of age and who were hospitalized for IV antibiotic therapy and/or IV hyperalimentation were studied. All but 2 patients had CF. Using an aseptic technique the catheters were inserted into the basilic or cephalic vein. Chest radiographs were used to confirm the final location of the catheter. Catheters were used to administer IV antibiotics, hyperalimentation, and lipids. There were 38 catheterizations in 23 patients; several patients had repeated insertions at later admissions. The success rate of insertion was 86% with 31 of the 38 insertions initially located either in the superior vena cava or right atrium. Mean duration of catheterization was 15.4 days (range 5-49 days). No major complications such as sepsis, catheter or clot embolism, pneumothorax, vascular perforation, or hemorrhage occurred in the patients who had DF. Complications that required displacement of catheter into the axillary vein (1 patient), and cracked catheter hub (1 patient). This study shows that the Drum-Cartridge Catheter can be used easily for IV therapy of patients who have CF for a long duration, repeatedly, and with no major complications.