title: Peripherally inserted central catheters in the patient with cardiomyopathy. The most cost-effective venous acess.
abstract: While waiting for a heart transplant, patients with cardiomyopathy receive positive inotropic agents and other medications that require ongoing venous access. To evaluate the cost effectiveness of bedside peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) placement, a retrospective analysis was conducted comparing four types of venous access. Almost 4000 dwell days support the premise that bedside PICC placement is the most cost-effective method of providing ongoing venous access to the patient with cardiomyopathy.
authors.affiliation: Penn State's Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Major
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Crow
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States; D014850:Waiting Lists