Clinical experience with power-injectable PICCs in intensive care patients.
BACKGROUND
In the ICU, peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) may be an alternative option to standard central venous catheters, particularly in patients with coagulation disorders or at high risk for infection. Some limits of PICCs (such as low flow rates) may be overcome with the use of power-injectable catheters.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed all of the power-injectable PICCs inserted in adult and pediatric patients in the ICU during a 12-month period, focusing on the rate of complications at insertion and during maintenance.


RESULTS
We collected 89 power-injectable PICCs (in adults and in children), both multiple and single lumen. All insertions were successful. There were no major complications at insertion and no episodes of catheter-related bloodstream infection. Non-infective complications during management were not clinically significant. There was one episode of symptomatic thrombosis during the stay in the ICU and one episode after transfer of a patient to a non-intensive ward.


CONCLUSIONS
Power-injectable PICCs have many advantages in the ICU: they can be used as multipurpose central lines for any type of infusion including high-flow infusion, for hemodynamic monitoring, and for high-pressure injection of contrast media during radiological procedures. Their insertion is successful in 100% of cases and is not associated with significant risks, even in patients with coagulation disorders. Their maintenance is associated with an extremely low rate of infective and non-infective complications.
Department of Surgery, Catholic University Hospital, Largo F, Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy. mauro.pittiruti@rm.unicatt.it
Mauro
M
Pittiruti
Alberto
A
Brutti
Davide
D
Celentano
Massimiliano
M
Pomponi
Daniele G
DG
Biasucci
Maria Giuseppina
MG
Annetta
Giancarlo
G
Scoppettuolo
D000328:Adult; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D012189:Retrospective Studies