Complication rates of broviac/hickman catheters and implanted venous access devices : a comparison in the pediatric oncology patient

Consistent and reliable venous access is an integral component in current treatment modalities for the pediatric patient diagnosed with cancer. With the use of potent chemotherapeutic agents, reliable veins can be rendered useless. The challenge of reliable access has led to the development of catheters that can provide long-term central venous access. Currently, the two most common devices used in pediatric oncology patients are the Broviac/Hickman catheter and the implanted venous access device. The purpose of this study was to compare the rate of complications in the two devices. Twenty-six cancer patients and their parents completed a questionnaire designed to ascertain problems that the child experienced with the central venous catheter. This study specifically looked at inability to withdraw blood samples, catheter occlusion, catheter-related sepsis, catheter rupture and exit-site infection. Results of this study revealed comparable rates of all complications in the two devices except exit-site infections. In this study there was a significant increase in the occurrence of exit-site infections in the children utilizing a Broviac/Hickman catheter.