title: Management of peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC) in pediatric heart failure patients receiving continuous inotropic support.
abstract: The study aim was to evaluate present practice of maintaining PICC line patency in pediatric heart failure patients receiving continuous inotropes by comparing one cohort receiving low dose continuous heparin with one receiving no heparin. A case control retrospective chart review compared the two cohorts on duration of patency (measured in days) and need for thrombolytic agents. Median duration of patency for the heparin group was 24 days versus 16 days for the no heparin group (p=0.07). Use of thrombolytic agents was 28% in the heparin group compared to 50% in the no heparin group (p=0.08). Although not statistically significant, findings were clinically significant and supportive of current practice.
authors.affiliation: Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA. Electronic address: maeve.giangregorio@childrens.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Maeve
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giangregorio
authors.affiliation: Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mott
authors.affiliation: Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.affiliation: Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Handa
authors.affiliation: Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Kimberlee
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gauvreau
authors.affiliation: Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Jean Anne
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Connor
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D062905:Central Venous Catheters / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D010372:Pediatrics; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014654:Vascular Patency / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D006493:Heparin
keywords: Cardiac; Heart failure; Heparin; Inotrope; Inotropic infusion; Pediatric; Peripherally inserted central catheter