title: A prospective observational study of the outcome of central venous catheterization in 100 patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To Study the outcome following central vein catheterization in patients receiving chemotherapy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To Study the outcome of central venous catheterization in terms of difficulty during insertion, duration, incidence of infections and other complications and reasons for removal.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective observational study conducted in 100 patients attending to Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute.
  
  
  METHODS
  Both onco-medical and onco-surgical patients who required insertion of central venous catheters were enrolled after ethical approval from June 2008 to November 2010. The study comprised 100 patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mean and percentage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean duration of the indwelling catheter was 109 days for Hickman catheter, 39 days for cavafix and 59 days for certofix. Difficulty in insertion and arrhythmias were common complications. There were no incidences of major life threatening complications. Catheter related infection was 30%. The commonest reason for catheter removal was treatment completion 72%. The next frequent cause was catheter infection 14% and patient death 6%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Even though central venous catheterization is associated with acceptable complications, they serve a useful aid in management of patients on chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Manipal, India.
authors.forename: Arun H D
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, Employee's State Insurance Medical College, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Nataraj M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Srinivasan
authors.affiliation: Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute, B J Medical College, Gujarat University, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Jayashree M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Thakkar
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Manipal, India.
authors.forename: Shaji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mathew
keywords: Central venous catheterization; complications; vascular access