Complications related to the insertion and maintenance of peripheral venous access central venous catheter.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the rates and nature of the complications related to the Central Peripheral Access Catheter (CVCAP or PICC) from its insertion to its withdrawal.

METHODS: Prospective observational study. All patients older than 14 years of age with a PICC inserted in the polyvalent intensive care unit (ICU) during the period between May 1, 2015 and April 30, 2016 were included. Data collected included: demographic data, insertion details, reason for insertion and removal, maintenance unit, total dwell time, incidence of complications and related factors and infection rate.

RESULTS: 144 PICCs were inserted, of which 94 corresponded to the ICU group (65.28%) and 50 (34.72%) to the non-ICU group. The most important complication was the suspicion of infection: 17.36% (rate of 15.2 per 1000 days of PICC). The total number of confirmed infections was 6.25% (5.5 per 1000 days of PICC), 1.39% (1.2 per 1000 days) being in the ICU group and 4.86% (4.2 per 1000 days) in the non-ICU group. There were 5 bacteraemias, all in the non-ICU group (3 per 1000 days). The most frequent germ was Staphylococcus epidermidis (6 cases). Phlebitis had an incidence of 9.03% (7.9 per 1000 days of PICC).

CONCLUSIONS: PICC, effective device for central venous access due to the minimal incidence of risks in implantation and to its advantages with regard to the classic central venous catheters, is a further nursing technique.