Right atrial catheter-related complications in pediatric oncology patients: The situation in a developing country

Ertem M., Yavuz G., Aysev D., Unal E., Gozdasoglu S., Tacyildiz N., ...More

PEDIATRIC HEMATOLOGY AND ONCOLOGY, vol.16, no.4, pp.299-309, 1999 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 16 Issue: 4
  • Publication Date: 1999
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/088800199277128
  • Journal Name: PEDIATRIC HEMATOLOGY AND ONCOLOGY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.299-309
  • Keywords: central venous catheter, children, complication, infection, malignant disease, CENTRAL VENOUS CATHETERS, STAPHYLOCOCCUS-EPIDERMIDIS, BROVIAC CATHETERS, ACCESS LINES, INFECTIONS, CHILDREN, CANCER, EXPERIENCE, PORTS
  • Ankara University Affiliated: No

Abstract

The complications of right atrial catheters (RACs) in pediatric oncology patients a,are unknown for centers in developing countries. This study examined the complications of RACs at Ankara University Medical School, Turkey. A total of 90 RACs were placed in 61 children for long-term chemotherapy with a total experience of 15,536 catheter days. Thr rate of catheter-related sepsis was 4.9 episodes pa 1000 catheter days. Coagulase-negative staphylococci and Candida species were the must common organisms, accounting for 25.0 and 13.1% of all organisms, respectively. The most common reasons for the removal of the RACs were infection (42.4%) and dislodgement (32.2%). The rates of complications were significantly higher in this study than in western studies. This increase could be explained by the differences in catheter care practices in the Turkish center. In conclusion, the use of RACs in a developing country necessitates an appraisal of the benefits and rirks for each patient and improvement of catheter care procedures.