title: Tunnelled central venous catheter-related problems in the early phase of haematopoietic stem cell transplantation and effects on transplant outcome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Haematopoietic stem cell recipients need central venous catheters (CVCs) for easy administration of intravenous fluid, medications, apheresis, or dialysis procedures. However, CVCs may lead to infectious or non-infectious complications such as thrombosis. The effect of these complications on transplantation outcome is not clear. This manuscript presents the complication rates of double-lumen tunnelled CVCs and their effect on transplantation outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from 111 consecutive patients, of whom 75 received autologous and 36 received allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantations, were collected retrospectively. The data were validated by the Record Inspection Group of the related JACIE-accredited transplantation centre.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thrombosis developed in 2.7% of recipients (0.9 per 1000 catheter days). Catheter-related infection was identified in 14 (12.6%) patients (3.6 per 1000 catheter days). Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus was the most common causative agent. Engraftment time, rate of 100-day mortality, and development of grade II-IV graft-versus-host disease were not found to be associated with catheter-related complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that adverse events related with tunnelled CVCs are manageable and have no negative effects on transplant outcome.
authors: Başkent University Faculty of Medicine, Adana Adult Bone Marrow Transplantation Centre, Department of Hematology, Adana, Turkey. E-mail: drmyeral@gmail.com.
authors: Mahmut
authors: M
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