An evaluation of Groshong central venous catheters on a gynecologic oncology service

One hundred ten women with gynecologic malignancies underwent 116 subclavian vein Groshong catheter insertions at the bedside under local anesthesia and intravenous sedation. Three (2.6%) additional patients had unsuccessful insertions because of an inability to access the subclavian vein or thread the guidewire. Fluoroscopy was not used. There was one delayed pneumothorax and no insertion-related infections. The 111 single-lumen catheters used primarily for the administration of chemotherapy are the subject of this report. The mean age of patients was 60 (range 13 to 89) years and their average Gynecologic Oncology Group performance score was 1.1 (range, 0 to 3). Diagnoses include 74 ovarian, 19 cervical, 13 uterine, and 5 other gynecologic malignancies. Hyperalimentation was administered in 16 (14%) patients. Grade IV neutropenia occurred in 57 (51%) patients and 44 (40%) received granulocyte colony-stimulating factor during therapy. The average lifespan of catheters was 247 (range, 37 to 703) days, and 39 (35%) women died from disease with their catheter in situ at a mean time of 288 days. Thirty-seven (33%) catheters were removed after completion of chemotherapy at an average time of 239 (range, 78 to 448) days. As of 1/1/94, 22 patients continued to use their catheters at a mean of 313 (range, 182 to 509) days. The remaining 13 (11.7%) catheters were removed due to complications (7 episodes of bacteremia, 3 tunnel infections, 2 catheter migration/thromboses, and 1 catheter laceration). Twenty episodes of fever in 17 (15.3%) patients were evaluated with blood cultures in the absence of a tunnel infection. None of the 10 culture negative cases resulted in catheter removal, whereas 7 of 10 patients with bacteremia had catheters removed. Exit site infections occurred in 23 (21%) patients and were resolved with local measures and oral antibiotics. The risk of exit site cellulitis was 3.3% per month. When compared to placement of permanent central venous access devices at our institution in the operating room or radiology suite, bedside placement of Groshong catheters resulted in a savings of $1448 and $231 per case, respectively.