title: A comprehensive intervention program on the long-term placement of peripherally inserted central venous catheters.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Peripherally inserted central venous catheters (PICCs) have been increasingly utilized in treating patients in intensive care. The purpose of this study is to analyze the related complications and to evaluate effect of a comprehensive intervention on long-term PICCs.
  
  
  METHODS
  We selected 217 and 243 cases before and after comprehensive intervention respectively from the department of radiotherapy in our hospital. Various possible factors affecting PICCs insertions and maintenance were analyzed. A quality control circle was formed for nursing care. The comprehensive intervention was performed both on catheter insertion and post-PICCs care. Complication rates were compared before and after the intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The duration for PICCs was 90 days. In the control group (before intervention), the complications were as follows: Tube feeding difficulties (23.5%), catheter dislodgment (23.5%), infection (17.6%), catheter obstruction (17.6%), puncture failure (5.9%), allergy (5.9%), and pain (5.9%). The incidence of unplanned extubations was 7.8%. The incidence of complications was significantly decreased in the test group (after intervention). Moreover, one episode of catheter obstruction (5.9%) and one episode of allergy (5.9%) were found (P < 0.01) in this study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Comprehensive intervention programs effectively reduce the incidence of complications in long-term PICCs lines.
authors.forename: Wenfeng
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
authors.forename: Haoyu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Liangfang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Man
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Lianxian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral; D062905:Central Venous Catheters; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D055815:Young Adult