• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.504-507
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• 2008

Implantable central venous catheters (Chemoport) are increasingly being used for vascular access, parenteral nutrition and administering chemotherapeutic agents. As with most invasive procedures, central venous catheterization is associated with numerous potential complications such as infection, thoromboembolism and occlusion. A rare but serous complication is the catheter fracture. We present here three cases of catheter fracture as a consequence of Pinch off syndrome, and we include a review of the relevant literature.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 1998

To evaluate the effectiveness of central venous catheters(CVCs) in children, 320 CVCs placed in 255 neonate and children over a 10-year period were analyzed retrospectively. CVC was placed by one pediatric surgeon for a total of 6, 116 patients days. Catheters were placed preoperatively for TPN or chemo in 223 cases. CVC was solely for TPN in 57 cases and for chemotherapy in 40. Local anesthesia was utilized in 71 cases, and the general anesthesia was administered in the remainder of the patients. The subclavian vein was catheterized(SCV) in 202 cases(82 infants and neonates), tunneled external jugular venotomy(EJV) was utilized in 38, tunneled internal jugular venotomy(UV) in 2, the facial venotomy(FV) was used in 3, and the umbilical vein was catheterized UVC) with vein transposition in 74 infants. In neonates, 72 UVCs were placed during laparotomy. SCV was increased with ages, from 3 kg of minimal body weight. The average catheter-periods over-all were 19.1 days, SCV 17 days, EJV 40, IJV 60 and UVC 14. Technical complications were; arterial puncture(6), puncture failure(5) and abnormal location(12) in SCV; insertion failure(3) in EJV; abnormal location in the portal vein(4) and the liver parenchyma(2) cystic fluid accumulations in UVC. Twelve migrations(3.8 %) out of position occurred; SCV(2), EJV(1) and UVC(9). There were 4 cases(1.2 %) of catheter obstruction and 11(3.4 %) of catheter infection(3 SCV, 2 EJV and 6 UVC). Rescue procedures were utilized with some success. There was one mortality(0.3 %) due to deep sedation in a 1.06 kg baby during placement of an EJV. The surgeon's experience, proper catheter selection and following safety rules are the most important factors for successful CVCs.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.33-42
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• 2004

Background : Intravenous(IV) access is becoming an increasingly important part of health care today. The current drive for clinical effectiveness and cost-effective health care serves to increase the need for reliable vascular access. Venous access devices were developed to overcome problems associated with limited peripheral access and frequent venipuncture in patients with long-term therapy. Although the peripherally inserted central catheter(PICC) have become popular during recent years in USA, its procedure is rare in Korea. Purpose : The goal of this study was to analyze the PICC inserted patient data by IV CNS intervention. Method : A Total of 62 PICCs were inserted into 51 patients by the IV CNS during a 10-month period form November, 14, 2002, to October 2, 2002. Data was obtained retrospectively through chart review. Result : The patient population included 34(54.8%) men and 28(45.2%) women, with a mean age 50.6 years. The main indication for PICC placement was to access vein in poor peripheral venous status(40.3%). The mean served interval for PICC insertions was 16.7 days(range, $2{\sim}61$ days). The reasons for removal were completed therapy in 18 cases(29.0%), patient death in 13 cases(21.0%), and mechanical or functional PICC problem in 10cases(16.1%). The three PICCs removed for presumed infection, and one had only positive tip cultures(0.2%). Conclusion : PICCs are rapidly growing popularity and required an extended course of IV therapy.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.167-174
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• 2006

Central venous catheter (CVC) for long-term venous access is indispensable for various reasons including hyperalimentation, frequent blood sampling, frequent IV drug use in pediatric patients. We report clinical experience of surgical neonates in whom CVC was inserted primarily via great saphenous vein into suprarenal inferior vena cava. From March 2004 to March 2006, we performed CVC insertion via saphenous vein - contralateral side to main wound - into suprarenal inferior vena cava in surgeries of neonates. 2.7Fr or 4.2Fr, single lumen, tunneled Broviac catheters (Bard Access system, Inc, Salt Lake City, Utah) were used. Skin exit site of tunneled catheter was located in ipsilateral flank area just below edge lower rib. At the end of the procedure, location of the catheter tip was confirmed by plain radiography of abdomen. We retrospectively reviewed the admission records of the patients including nursing staff charts. Nine (50.0 %) patients were male and nine (50.0%) were female. Median gestational age was 38 weeks (range, 29-42 weeks) and median birth weight was 3,105 gm (range, 1,040-3,720 gm). Median age at catheter insertion was 38.5 days (range, 1-236 days). The purpose of CVC insertion was short-and long-term hyperalimentation in nine (50.0 %) patients. CVC insertion was performed in operation room under general anesthesia in sixteen (88.9 %) patients (in these cases, CVC insertion was performed just prior to concurrent operation) and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) under local anesthesia with adequate sedation in two (11.2%). During the admission period (total catheter-indwelling time: 553 days), CVC functioned well without any significant side effects. Transient swelling of the ipsilateral leg (n=1, 5.6 %) and transient migration of catheter tip (n=1, 5.6 %) were noted, which did not affect function of the indwelled CVC. Mean catheter-indwelling time was 30.7days (range, 3-72 days). All catheters were removed electively except two mortality case. Complications, such as thrombosis, infection, kinking or extravasation of drugs, were not observed in our study period. Tunneled trans-great saphenous vein inferior vena cava catheters are not only comparable to cervical CVCs in terms of function and complication rates, but also very beneficial in selected patients, especially those in whom cervical approach is technically impossible or contraindicated.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.54 no.9
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• pp.363-367
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• 2011

Central venous catheters (CVCs) are regularly used in intensive care units, and catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) remains a leading cause of healthcare-associated infections, particularly in preterm infants. Increased survival rate of extremely-low-birth-weight infants can be partly attributed to routine practice of CVC placement. The most common types of CVCs used in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) include umbilical venous catheters, peripherally inserted central catheters, and tunneled catheters. CRBSI is defined as a laboratory-confirmed bloodstream infection (BSI) with either a positive catheter tip culture or a positive blood culture drawn from the CVC. BSIs most frequently result from pathogens such as gram-positive cocci, coagulase-negative staphylococci, and sometimes gram-negative organisms. CRBSIs are usually associated with several risk factors, including prolonged catheter placement, femoral access, low birth weight, and young gestational age. Most NICUs have a strategy for catheter insertion and maintenance designed to decrease CRBSIs. Specific interventions slightly differ between NICUs, particularly with regard to the types of disinfectants used for hand hygiene and appropriate skin care for the infant. In conclusion, infection rates can be reduced by the application of strict protocols for the placement and maintenance of CVCs and the education of NICU physicians and nurses.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.63 no.5
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• pp.449-453
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• 2007

Totally implanted central venous access devices for chemotherapy (chemoport) are being used increasingly in lung cancer patients. Vascular catheters are associated with various complications including infection, thrombosis as well as spontaneous fractures and embolization of the catheter, which is known as 'pinch-off syndrome'. 'Pinch-off syndrome' refers to the compression of a subclavian central venous catheter between the clavicle and first rib resulting in an intermittent or permanent obstruction, which can lead to tears, transection, or embolization. We report two cases of fractured and embolized implanted subclavian venous catheters in which the fragments were removed percutaneously. A 62-year-old man presented with back pain with a duration of a few weeks. The chest radiograph revealed complete transsection and embolization of the catheter into the right atrium. In addition, a 47-year-old woman with a chemoport had a grade 3 pinch-off sign in a chest radiograph demonstrating complete transsection and embolization of the catheter into the pulmonary artery. Both cases were managed by retrieving the embolized distal fragment percutaneously and removing the proximal section of the catheter.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.136-141
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• 2015

Purpose: Continuous intravenous access is imperative in emergency situations. Ultrasound-guided internal jugular vein (IJV) catheterization was investigated in critically ill pediatric patients to assess the feasibility of the procedure. Methods: Patients admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit between February 2011 and September 2012 were enrolled in this study. All patients received a central venous catheter from attending house staff under ultrasound guidance. Outcome measures included successful insertion of the catheter, cannulation time, number of cannulation attempts, and number and type of resulting complications. Results: Forty-one central venous catheters (93.2%) were successfully inserted into 44 patients (21 males and 23 females; mean age, $6.54{\pm}1.06$ years). Thirty-three patients (75.0%) had neurological disorders. The right IJV was used for catheter insertion in 34 cases (82.9%). The mean number of cannulation attempts and the mean cannulation time was $1.57{\pm}0.34$ and $14.07{\pm}1.91$ minutes, respectively, the mean catheter dwell time was $14.73{\pm}2.5$ days. Accidental catheter removal was observed in 9 patients (22.0%). Six patients (13.6%) reported complications, the most serious being catheter-related sepsis, which affected 1 patient (2.3%). Other complications included 2 reported cases of catheter malposition (4.6%), and 1 case each of arterial puncture (2.3%), pneumothorax (2.3%), and skin infection (2.3%). Conclusion: The results suggest that ultrasound-guided IJV catheterization can be performed easily and without any serious complications in pediatric patients, even when performed by visiting house staff. Therefore, ultrasound-guided IJV catheterization is strongly recommended for critically ill pediatric patients.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.25-31
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• 2010

Hickman catheters are tunneled central venous catheters used for long-term venous access in children with malignancies. The appropriate management for various kinds of catheter related complications has become a major issue. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical, demographic, and surgical characteristics in 154 pediatric hemato-oncology patients who underwent Hickman catheter insertion between January 2005 and December 2009. There were 92 boys and 62 girls. The mean age at surgery was $7.6{\pm}5.1$ years old. The mean operation time was $67.4{\pm}21.3$ minutes and C-arm fluoroscopy was used in 47(30.5 %). The causes of Hickman catheter removal were termination of use in 82 (57.3 %), catheter related bloodstream infection in 44(30.8 %), mechanical malfunction in 11(7.7 %), and accidents in 6(4.2 %). Univariate and multivariate analysis for associated factors with catheter related bloodstream infection showed that there were no statistically significant associated factors with catheter related infection complications. All cases except two showed clinical improvement with catheter removal and relevant antibiotics treatment. The mean catheter maintenance period in patients of catheter removal without complications was $214.9{\pm}140.2$ days. And, The mean catheter maintenance period in patients of late catheter related bloodstream infection was $198.0{\pm}116.0$ days. These data suggest that it is important to remove Hickman catheter as soon as possible after the termination of use. When symptoms and signs of complications were noticed, prompt diagnostic approach and management can lead to clinical improvements.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.35-41
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• 2011

Total implanted central venous port (TIAP, Chemoport) is widely used in oncology patients because it does not require external dressing and restricts patient activity. Chemoport only requires monthly flushes of heparinized saline to keep the patency of the catheter and probably less prone to infectious complications than tunneled catheter. Despite the extensive use of permanent central venous access in oncology patients, there are only few reports about clinical experience of the Groshong catheter. The purpose of this study is to compare the complication rate between the traditional open-ended (non-valved) chemoports and valved chemoports (Groshong catheter connected to TIAP). During 5 years (Jan 2006 to May 2010), 438 patients received chemoport insertion procedure in our interventional radiology department. Among them 30 patients was referred to our department for problematic chemoports. We compared the cause of problematic chemoports between two types of chemoports (valved, vs. non-valved). Valved chemoports had higher referral rates than non-valved chemoports. When there is a need to insert valved port, different method of insertion and maintenance procedure seems to be necessary. More than 20 ml of flusing with heparinized saline after blood sampling could be a good suggestion. Adequate care of chemoport is essential for long patency. Also following the guideline from the manufacturing company is necessary.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.7
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• pp.636-642
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• 2007

Purpose : Fluconazole prophylaxis for very low birth weight (VLBW) infants has been shown to reduce invasive fungal infection and its mortality. This study aims to evaluate the effect of fluconazole prophylaxis in VLBW infants on the incidence and mortality of fungal infection. Methods : VLBW infants with endotracheal intubation and central vascular access admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Chonnam University Hospital were enrolled. Twenty eight infants of 7-month baseline period from January to July 2005 ('non-fluconazole group') were compared with 29 infants of a 7-month fluconazole period from January to July 2006 ('fluconazole group'). Results : Gestational age, birth weight, sex, mode of delivery, frequency of twin pregnancy, chorioamnionitis, antenatal steroid and rupture of membranes were similar between the fluconazole and non-fluconazole groups. The rate of extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants, frequency and duration of prophylactic antibiotics, total parenteral nutrition and umbilical catheters, duration of intralipid, mechanical ventilation and nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) were also not significant. However, frequency of percutaneous central venous catheterization (PCVC) and intralipid administration, and duration of PCVC were significant between the two groups. The overall incidence and mortality of fungal infection were not different between the two groups. Although the Malassezia infection was increased in the fluconazole group (P<0.05), candida was significantly decreased compared to the non-fluconazole group (P<0.05). Conclusion : Fluconazole prophylaxis in high risk VLBW infants decreased the candida infection significantly. Antifungal prophylaxis is recommended in terms of cost effectiveness, but further study is needed to clarify the reason for the increase of Malassezia infection.