title: [Indwelling central venous catheters after discontinuation of therapy and risk of infection in children with cancer].
abstract: In this retrospective study we report the incidence of CVC-related infections in a pediatric oncology population during the off therapy period. We analysed 128 children with oncologic diseases (solid tumors and leukemia), 78 boys and 50 girls, aged 1 to 21 years, who maintained the CVC in situ at least 6 months after the cessation of chemotherapeutic protocols. Seventy-eight patients had a single lumen Broviac-Hickman CVC, 8 patients had a double lumen Broviac-Hickman and 42 a implantable port device. The permanence of CVC in situ after discontinuation of treatment varied between 6 and 24 months. CVC was removed in 5 patients that presented a CVC-related infection, respectively 6, 6, 6, 7 and 10 months from discontinuation of therapy, in 85 patients because was considered no more necessary. 38 patients are still with CVC in situ; in this group 11 patients relapsed more than 6 months after discontinuation of the therapy and were analysed until the time of relapsed. The result of our study show that the incidence of CVC related infections in patients off therapy is very low. Considering the discomfort that frequent blood withdrawals cause to children and the relapse risk, we think that CVC may be maintained in situ more than 6 months after discontinuation of the therapy without risks for the patients.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Pediatriche e dell'Adolescenza, Università degli Studi, Torino.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giacchino
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vai
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Savant-Levet
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Balbo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oderda
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Massara
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferrero Poschetto
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Valori
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Miniero
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007239:Infections / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D007938:Leukemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors
vernacular_title: Permanenza del catetere venoso centrale dopo la sospensione della terapia e rischio infettivo in bambini affetti da neoplasia.