Hickman-Broviac catheter use in cancer patients

Seventy-nine patients who had Hickman-Broviac (H-B) catheters inserted over a 1-year period were studied. There were 52 patients in the hematological group and 27 patients in the solid tumor group. Complications associated with the H-B catheters were infection and venous thrombosis, with infection being more common. Nine patients experienced local infection, ten had local infection with bacteremia, and 14 had severe infection, respectively. Infectious complications were more prevalent in the hematological group; 13 of the 14 severe infections were found in patients with hematological disorders. Severe infection was more common in patients with two catheters in place as compared to those with only one catheter (P less than 0.05). In particular, the presence of two catheters significantly increased the risk of infection in hematological patients. The risk of infection may be reduced by using only one catheter with either a single or double lumen.