Prospective evaluation of a low maintenance policy for semipermanent silicone vascular access catheters.
Twenty-six women had semipermanent vascular access catheters (VACs) inserted to allow weekly outpatient infusion chemotherapy for advanced breast cancer. VACs were maintained without occlusive dressings, antibiotics, repeated flushings or heparin for a total of 2294 patient days (range 6 to 217 days, median 55 days). Three exit site and one subcutaneous tunnel infection occurred but no patient suffered septicaemia. VACs allowed both blood sampling and drug administration on 267 occasions and drug administration only on 19 occasions. No catheter became completely occluded.
Ebbs
S R
SR
Department of Surgery, Kings College Hospital, Rayne Institute, London, UK.
Saunders
J A
JA
Baum
M
M
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000451:nursing; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous / Q000295:instrumentation; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011897:Random Allocation; D012648:Self Care; D012828:Silicones
D012828:Silicones; D015251:Epirubicin