The use of central venous catheters in children receiving intensive oncotherapy in a developing country
Date
1996
Authors
Wessels G.
Hesseling P.B.
Moore S.W.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
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Abstract
Fifty-three central venous access catheters were placed in 45 consecutive cancer patients younger than 13 years of age. Ten of the 16 children from a very poor socio-economic background were discharged and received their catheter care as outpatients. Catheters were left in situ for a mean period of 134 days and 159 days in the better and poor socio-economic groups respectively. In 19 cases catheters were removed before completion of chemotherapy. Reasons for early removal of catheters were technical factors in 9 patients, removal by the patient in 4 cases, blocked catheters or skin erosion at the exit site in 4 cases, and catheter sepsis in 2 patients. One febrile episode was recorded per 107 catheter days. Blood culture-proven sepsis occurred at a rate of 1.7 episodes per 1000 catheter days. There was no difference in the incidence of febrile episodes without obvious cause in patients from a good socio-economic background (1/100 catheter days) and in those from a socio-economically disadvantaged background (1/123 catheter days). The morbidity in patients from poor socio-economic circumstances who went home with long-term central venous access catheters in situ was acceptable.
Description
Keywords
article, cancer chemotherapy, cancer patient, catheter infection, central venous catheter, child, clinical article, clinical trial, controlled clinical trial, controlled study, developing country, fever, human, morbidity, outpatient, skin defect, social class, Antineoplastic Agents, Catheterization, Central Venous, Child, Child, Preschool, Cost-Benefit Analysis, Developing Countries, Humans, Neoplasms, Prospective Studies, Risk Factors, Socioeconomic Factors, Time Factors
Citation
South African Journal of Surgery
34
4
34
4