title: Hickman catheter complications in marrow transplant recipients.
abstract: The complications associated with the insertion and use of 95 single lumen and 312 double lumen Hickman right atrial catheters in 357 marrow transplant recipients were retrospectively analyzed. Three-hundred (84%) first inserted catheters were in place for a median of 93 days (range, 16-209) without complications and were removed electively. Thirty-nine (9.6%) of all catheters were removed for infections and 24 (5.9%) for mechanical complications. Ninety-five patients (26.6%) had 111 episodes of septicemia involving 128 separate organisms and 25 patients had 25 episodes of localized catheter infection with 26 separate organisms. The most frequently isolated organism was coagulase-negative staphylococcus. Twelve of 24 removals due to mechanical complications were caused by accidental pulling of the catheter by the patient.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D002404:Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008875:Middle Aged; D018805:Sepsis / Q000209:etiology*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D013997:Time Factors