title: Outcome of subcutaneously implanted catheters in a teaching hospital.
abstract: Subcutaneously implanted catheters (SIC) are commonly used for long-term intravenous access. This article examines SIC outcome data in a series of patients in a teaching center. The study was performed as a retrospective review. The study is descriptive in nature. Patients were entered into the study at the time of SIC removal, and demographics, diagnoses, and reasons for removal were recorded. Reasons for removal, lifespans of catheter, and outcome are analyzed. All catheters were implanted and removed at the Long Island Jewish Medical Center. Statistical analysis was by Student's t test. Significance is defined as P < .05. The average duration of catheter life was 14.4 +/- 17.1 months. Three reasons were identified for catheter removal: completion of therapy (44%), catheter malfunction (28%), and infection (28%). Our total infection rate was 0.65/1000 catheter days, which decreased to 0.19/1000 for catheters in place between 1 and 24 months. Catheters left in place for more than 24 months were noted to have an increased infection rate. SICs are a safe and effective mode of intravenous access. Our data indicate that infectious complications are low when proper technique is employed and catheters are removed before 24 months.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Long Island Jewish-Northshore Health System, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New Hyde Park, NY 11040, USA.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McNelis
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zarcone
authors.forename: Corrado
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marini
authors.forename: Antoni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jurkiewicz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000592:standards*; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000592:standards*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004868:Equipment Failure; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control; D008875:Middle Aged; D009518:New York / Q000453:epidemiology; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D018579:Patient Selection; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors