Use of indwelling right atrial catheter in gynecological oncology: a preliminary report.
Experience with the utilization of an indwelling right atrial catheter in patients with gynecological cancer is reviewed. The technique of placement is described and the complications in 21 patients are presented. Fever was the major complication in 5 out of 21 patients of whom 2 had positive blood cultures. The catheter had to be removed in 3 patients. The median duration of catheter placement was 45 days, the shortest being 8 hr and the longest being 1 year. Most of the patients were myelosuppressed or had no other venous sites accessible. A safe regimen for management of the catheter and indication for its removal are presented.
D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000628:therapy*; D006325:Heart Atria; D006801:Humans; D010289:Parenteral Nutrition, Total / Q000295:instrumentation