An analysis of long-term venous access catheters in cancer patients:experience from a tertiary care centre in India.

Shukla, N K; Das, D K; Deo, S V S; Raina, V

An analysis of long-term venous access catheters in cancer patients:experience from a tertiary care centre in India.

Date

2002-01-26

Authors

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Venous access is crucial for cancer management for administration of drugs blood products, antibiotics and periodic sampling. AIMS: To review our experience of long-term venous access devices used over a ten-year period and to analyse the outcome in cancer patients in Indian setting. Setting and Design: A retrospective analysis of data in a tertiary care Regional cancer centre. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 110 patients with various malignancies requiring long-term venous access were included in the study. A uniform open cut down procedure under local anaesthesia was used and silastic Hickman catheters were inserted in the cephalic or external jugular or internal jugular veins. A record of all complications and catheter loss and final out come were analysed. RESULTS: A total of 111 catheters were used in 110 patients. Sixty-nine catheters were placed in cephalic, 40 in external jugular, and 2 in internal jugular vein. Duration of catheter indwelling period ranged from 7 to 365 days with a median of 120 days. In 90% of the cases the catheter tip was located either in superior vena cava or in right atrium. Total catheter related complications were observed in 37 (34.54%) patients and catheter loss rate due to complications was 15.4% (17/111). CONCLUSIONS: Long-term venous access using Hickman catheter insertion by open cut down method is a simple, safe and reliable method for administration of chemotherapeutic agents, antibiotics and blood products. The incidence of various complications and catheter loss was acceptable and overall patient satisfaction was good.

Citation

Shukla NK, Das DK, Deo SV, Raina V. An analysis of long-term venous access catheters in cancer patients:experience from a tertiary care centre in India. Journal of Postgraduate Medicine. 2002 Jan-Mar; 48(1): 21-4