title: [A new system for permanent venous access, Cathlink 20: prospective clinical study. 95 cases].
abstract: A prospective clinical study of Cathlink, a new venous access system, was conducted in 95 cancer patients requiring long-term venous access (three months or more). Safety and efficacy of the device were also evaluated. This single-center study was done at the Bergonié Center, Regional Cancer Control Center, Bordeaux, France, from February 1994 to June 1998. Emergency cases were excluded. All patients gave their informed consent. The protocol was approved by the Bordeaux Ethics Committee. Cathlink low and standard profile systems were implanted in the prethoracic region. The catheter was introduced into a vein of the superior vena cava system in all 95 patients. Mean number of patient days was 11,295, and mean number of days per patient was 205,3636. Of the 493 accesses, 421 (79%) were successful at the first try. As compared with conventional implantable catheter devices, flow and location were better but access was more difficult, a shortcoming that will probably be improved by use of the Cathlink 20 standard profile device. The system was perceived as providing "natural" venous access by the nurses, who are now more used to using short catheters than Huber needles. Another important consideration is the enhanced safety provided by this system (no needle recoil after removal, and therefore no risk of infection, in particular due to viral agents).
authors.affiliation: Département d'Anesthésie-Réanimation, Institut Bergonié, Centre Regional de Lutte Contre le Cancer, Bordeaux, France.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lakdja
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Roubault
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Fonrouge
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies