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PERCUTANEOUS INFRACLAVICULAR INSERTION OF LONG‐TERM CENTRAL VENOUS HICKMAN CATHETERS
Author(s) -
Hughes Christopher J.,
RamseyStewart George,
Storey David w.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.111
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1445-2197
pISSN - 0004-8682
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-2197.1989.tb07034.x
Subject(s) - medicine , percutaneous , surgery , pneumothorax , catheter , complication , lumen (anatomy) , subclavian vein , intravenous therapy , anesthesia
Percutaneous infraclavicular subclavian vein insertions of single lumen Hickman right atrial catheters ( n = 342) were performed on 308 patients at Royal Rinse Alfred Hospital. The indications for insertion were administration of total parented nutrition (44.8%). intravenous chemotherapy (40.9%). intravenous therapy in patients with inaccessible peripheral veins (11.7%). and intravenous antibiotic administration (2.6%). Three percutaneous catheter insertions were complicated by pneumothorax (0.88%). There were no other complications of insertion. Catheters remained in situ for a median period of 30 days (range: 2–853 days). The majority of catheters (69.6%) remained functioning and complication‐free until the completion of therapy or until the patient died of their original disease. Some catheters became infected (9.9%) and there was a 0.6% incidence of septicaemia due to infected catheters; 8.5% of catheters were removed because of a suspicion of infection that was not subsequently proven. The incidence of infection was highest within the first month after catheter insertion, and decreased thereafter. Percutaneous subclavian insertion of Hickman right atrial catheters appears to be the insertion method of choice in patients requiring long‐term central venous access.