3/2007Complications associated with peripheral catheter insertion in children with neoplasia

URSZULA GÓRECKA (Zakład Nauk Podstawowych Wydziału Zdrowia Publicznego Akademii Medycznej we Wrocławiu; Kierownik: prof. dr hab. med. Irena Choroszy-Król)

Background
Intravenous catheters associated with the necessity of prolonged intravenous therapy are one of the most common invasive devices used in children with neoplasia.

Material and methods
Analysis of peripheral intravenous catheters was carried out in 49 patients (26 boys and 23 girls) aged from 0.5 to 22 years (mean 10 years) treated in the Department of Pediatric Oncology and Haematology, Medical University of Wrocław. Peripheral lines type venflon made by Beckton Dickinson were used. Peripheral cannula standardized form was used for research purposes. 100 peripheral insertion whereas 1–7 catheter insertion per one child were investigated.

Results
In examined group of patients peripheral devices were placed on the back of the hand (n = 48), in the elbow (n = 26), on the forearm (n = 17), in wrist site (n = 6) and on the back of the foot (n = 3). Peripheral catheter complications in the form of erythema was seen the most rarely when cannula was localized in the elbow (8%). The most common localization of intravenous line which caused complications was wrist region (100%). In other sites the frequency of erythema was observed in about one third cases.

Key words: peripheral catheters, complications, children, neoplasia