Venous thrombosis related to peripherally inserted central catheters.

PURPOSE: To determine factors that may lead to venous thrombosis in patients with peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC).

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

The medical records of 678 patients with 813 PICCs during 1997 were cross-referenced with all patients receiving venous duplex examinations (1,631) during the same time period. Multiple factors were examined in the patients with catheter-related thrombosis, including diagnosis, solution infused, catheter tip position, vein accessed, and catheter diameter.

RESULTS

Nurses placed 269 PICCs with 12 venous thromboses, for a rate of 4.5%. Radiologists placed 544 PICCs with 20 venous thromboses, for a rate of 3.7%. There was no significant difference in these rates. The overall thrombosis rate was 3.9%. After multivariate analysis, only catheter diameter remained significant. There were no thromboses in catheters 3 F or smaller. The thrombosis rate was 1% for 4-F catheters, 6.6% for 5-F catheters, and 9.8% for 6-F catheters.

CONCLUSIONS

Thrombosis rate associated with PICCs was low (3.9%). The smallest acceptable catheter diameter should be used to decrease the incidence of venous thrombosis.