title: Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter-Related Upper Extremity Venous Thrombosis in Oncology Patients: A Prospective Study Based on Doppler Sonography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) are associated with an increased risk of venous thrombosis. This study had 2 objectives: to estimate the incidence of upper extremity venous thrombosis associated with PICCs in oncology patients and to evaluate the role of Doppler sonography in antithrombotic prophylaxis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a prospective study with each patient being followed for 6 weeks. From April 2014 to October 2014, we analyzed a series of 245 consecutive oncology patients undergoing chemotherapy via PICCs, for an overall number of 246 PICC placements. We assessed the role of Doppler sonography for initiation of antithrombotic prophylaxis. The study group encompassed 2 cohorts of patients: those who received regular weekly Doppler screening for thrombosis prophylaxis and those who did not.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 246 insertions, we observed 90 episodes of upper extremity venous thrombosis (36.59%); 62 of them were asymptomatic in the Doppler group, and 28 were symptomatic in the no-Doppler group. Patients in the Doppler group had a significantly lower rate of thrombosis (0%) than those in the no-Doppler group (23.53%; P < .01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our prospective study suggests that the rate of PICC-related upper extremity venous thrombosis in oncology patients is high, and the occurrence of symptomatic thrombosis could be lowered with regular weekly Doppler screening after PICC insertions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemotherapy, Sichuan Cancer Hospital, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemotherapy, Sichuan Cancer Hospital, Chengdu, China jxm-2000@163.com.
authors.forename: Xiao-Mei
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Jing
authors.affiliation: Department of Hospital Nursing, Sichuan Cancer Hospital, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Guo-Rong
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemotherapy, Sichuan Cancer Hospital, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemotherapy, Sichuan Cancer Hospital, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Hai-Xin
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Department of Ultrasonography, Sichuan Cancer Hospital, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Shan-Shan
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler / Q000379:methods*; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: Doppler sonography; oncology; peripherally inserted central catheter; upper extremity venous thrombosis; vascular ultrasound