title: The use of 8-cm 22G Seldinger catheters for intravenous access in children with cystic fibrosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Long intravenous catheters are an effective and economical choice of vascular access for intravenous antibiotic therapy in children with cystic fibrosis (CF). This prospective audit assesses the use of Vygon Leaderflex 22G × 8 cm catheters in an Australian tertiary centre. Key outcomes included catheter lifespan, ability to complete antibiotic therapy and complication rates.
  
  
  METHODS
  All paediatric patients admitted with infective exacerbations of CF lung disease for 18 months between 2012 and 2013 were prospectively included. Data were analysed using t-tests and Fisher exact test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 40 successful catheter insertions for 20 patients during 32 admissions were identified. The mean duration of the catheters was 10.08 days (median 9.5, SD=5.0). Of the 32 admissions, antibiotic therapy was completed with long catheters in 78% of cases (n=25) and with a single catheter in 48% (n=19). Rates of local complications were high, but there were no serious adverse outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although limited by a small sample size, the results from this study are promising and suggest that 8 cm long catheters are a safe, effective and economical alternative to peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) in treating pulmonary exacerbations in children with CF.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Respiratory Medicine, Monash Children's Hospital, Melbourne - Australia.
authors.forename: Sarah Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.forename: Matthias T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Horn
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Armstrong
mesh_terms: D061605:Administration, Intravenous; D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D020878:Device Removal; D018450:Disease Progression; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D008485:Medical Audit; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000098:blood supply*; D062666:Vascular Access Devices; D014739:Victoria
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents