Medically Attended Catheter Complications Are Common in Patients With Outpatient Central Venous Catheters.

Journal Article (Journal Article)

OBJECTIVE Outpatient central venous catheters (CVCs) are being used more frequently; however, data describing mechanical complications and central-line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) in the outpatient setting are limited. We performed a retrospective observational cohort study to understand the burden of these complications to elucidate their impact on the healthcare system. METHODS Data were retrospectively collected on patients discharged from Vanderbilt University Medical Center with a CVC in place and admitted into the care of Vanderbilt Home Care Services. Risk factors for medically attended catheter-associated complications (CACs) and outpatient CLABSIs were analyzed. RESULTS A CAC developed in 143 patients (21.9%), for a total of 165 discrete CAC events. Among these, 76 (46%) required at least 1 visit to the emergency department or an inpatient admission, while the remaining 89 (54%) required an outpatient clinic visit. The risk for developing a CAC was significantly increased in female patients, patients with a CVC with >1 lumen, and patients receiving total parenteral nutrition. The absolute number of CLABSIs identified in the study population was small at 16, or 2.4% of the total cohort. CONCLUSIONS Medically attended catheter complications were common among outpatients discharged with a CVC, and reduction of these events should be the focus of outpatient quality improvement programs. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2018;39:439-444.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Spires, SS; Rebeiro, PF; Miller, M; Koss, K; Wright, PW; Talbot, TR

Published Date

  • April 2018

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 39 / 4

Start / End Page

  • 439 - 444

PubMed ID

  • 29444733

Pubmed Central ID

  • PMC5972823

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1559-6834

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1017/ice.2018.8

Language

  • eng

Conference Location

  • United States