title: Central venous access devices in pediatric malignancies: a position paper of Italian Association of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Treatment of pediatric malignancies is becoming progressively more complex, implying the adoption of multimodal therapies. A reliable, long-lasting venous access represents one of the critical requirements for the success of those treatments. Recent technical innovations-such as minimally invasive procedures for placement, new devices and novel materials-have rapidly spread for clinical use in adult patients, but are still not consistently used in the pediatric population.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Supportive Therapy Working Group of Italian Association of Hematology and Oncology (AIEOP) reviewed medical literature focusing on new aspects of central venous access devices (VADs) in pediatric patients affected by oncohematological diseases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Appropriate recommendations for clinical use in these patients have been discussed and formulated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The importance of the correct choice, management and use of VADs in pediatric oncohematological patients is a necessary prerequisite for an adequate standard of care, also considering the increased chances of cure and the longer life expectancy of those patients with modern therapies.
authors.affiliation: 1 General and Thoracic Surgery Unit, Department of Surgery, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome - Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Crocoli
authors.forename: Assunta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tornesello
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pittiruti
authors.forename: Angelica
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barone
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Muggeo
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Inserra
authors.forename: Angelo Claudio
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Molinari
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Grillenzoni
authors.forename: Viviana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Durante
authors.forename: Maria Pia
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Cicalese
authors.forename: Giulio Andrea
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Zanazzo
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cesaro
mesh_terms: D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D062905:Central Venous Catheters; D002648:Child; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006405:Hematology; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D010372:Pediatrics