Central venous catheters are of an essential importance to critically ill patients who require long-term venous access for various purposes. Their use made the treatment much easier, but still they are not harmless and are prone to numerous complications. Catheter infections represent the most significant complication in their use. The frequency of infections varies in different patient care se...

Catheter-related bloodstream infections (CR-BSIs) are a common, frequently preventable complication of central venous catheterization. CR-BSIs can be prevented by strict attention to insertion and maintenance of central venous catheters and removing unneeded catheters as soon as possible. Antiseptic- or antibiotic-impregnated catheters are also an effective tool to prevent infections. The diagn...

Since 1968 when Wilmore and Dudrick described normal growth and development in a child receiving all nutrients intravenously,' the practice of total parenteral nutrition in infants and children has become established as a life saving procedure.2 Maintaining the infusion of hypertonic feeding solutions by the use of peripheral veins over anything but short periods is unpleasant for the patients ...

Forty nine Broviac or Hickman indwelling central venous catheters were inserted in 36 patients with haematological and neoplastic diseases for indications including young age, intensity of treatment, and psychological attitude. Sixteen patients suffered 29 episodes of infection related to the catheter bacteraemia (0.68 episodes per 100 days of catheter use). Infections occurred much more common...

INTRODUCTION The objective of the present study was to evaluate the use of a single lumen 16 G central venous catheter for the drainage of uncomplicated pleural effusions in intensive care unit patients. METHODS A prospective observational study was performed in two intensive care units of university-affiliated hospitals. The study involved 10 intensive care unit patients with non-loculated l...

OBJECTIVE To assess the effectiveness of the chlorhexidine antimicrobial dressing in comparison to the gauze and tape dressing in the use of central venous catheters. METHOD A randomized clinical trial was conducted in the intensive care and adult semi intensive care units of a university hospital in the south of Brazil. The subjects were patients using short-term central venous catheters, ra...

Most hospitalized patients have placement of a peripheral venous access device, either a short peripheral catheter or a peripherally inserted central catheter. Compared with central venous catheters that are not peripherally inserted, the other 2 types are generally perceived by health care providers as safer and less complicated to manage, and less emphasis is placed on the prevention and mana...

Indwelling femoral venous catheters were prospectively studied by ultrasonography to define the frequency and evolution of inferior vena cava (IVC) thrombosis. IVC thrombosis was identified in six of 56 catheters (54 children). Only one patient with a positive ultrasound scan had clinical signs of thrombosis. All children with IVC thrombosis had had catheters in place for over six days. It is r...

BACKGROUND Umbilical venous catheters are often used in unwell neonates. Infection related to the use of these catheters may cause significant morbidity and mortality. The use of prophylactic antibiotics has been advocated for newborns with umbilical venous catheters in order to reduce the risk of colonisation and acquired infection. Countering this is the possibility that harm may outweigh ben...