Sepsis outcomes in infants and children with central venous catheters: percutaneous versus surgical insertion.
OBJECTIVE
To review the literature on central venous catheters (CVCs) in infants and children.


METHODS
Published surgical, medical, nursing, and nutritional studies from 1968 to the present.


METHODS
More than 250 studies were reviewed; selection criteria for the 64 studies chosen included age, percutaneous CVC (PCVC) or surgical CVC (SCVC) use, and defined rate of sepsis.


METHODS
Included study purpose, sample size and age, indications for total parenteral nutrition, insertion method and sites, number of CVCs, and sepsis outcomes.


RESULTS
Yielded weighted mean sepsis rates that were 3.5 times higher for SCVC use in neonatal and/or pediatric populations; subanalyses of homogeneous groups of studies yielded rates that were 2.5 to 3.8 times higher.


CONCLUSIONS
Percutaneous CVC insertion should be given primary consideration for neonatal and pediatric intensive-care patients.
Chathas
M K
MK
Michael Reese Hospital and Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
Paton
J B
JB
D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007223:Infant; D012307:Risk Factors; D018401:Sample Size; D018805:Sepsis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*