A SINGLE, DOUBLE-LUMEN HIGH-FLOW CATHETER FOR PATIENTS UNDERGOING PERIPHERAL-BLOOD STEM-CELL TRANSPLANTATION - EXPERIENCE AT THE NATIONAL-CANCER-INSTITUTE IN MEXICO

Peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) requires a high-how catheter for adequate cell collection by apheresis and long i.v. supp ort, this is usually achieved by multiple catheters, We analysed our e xperience with Mahurkar or Permacath for apheresis and longterm i.v. s upport in PBSCT, cared for exclusively by an i.v. therapy team. Fifty- six catheters were used in 53 patients that completed PBSCT (28 Permac ath and 28 Mahurkar). In 10 patients (19%) the same catheter was used for multiple PBSCT, The average stay was 58.4 days (7-219), Permacath 76.8 days (14-219) and Mahurkar 42 days (7-106), The incidence of infe ctious complications was 2.2 x 1000 catheter-days (1.7 Permacath and 3 .0 Mahurkar); during neutropenia it was 3.7 x 1000 cathether-days. The incidence of thrombosis was 0.9 x 1000 catheter-days. There was a tot al of seven infectious episodes (12.7%), Five (9%) were local and two were (3.6%) bacteremias. The microorganism most commonly isolated was Staphylococcus sp. (57%). Four catheters (7.1%) were removed because o f complications: one thrombosis and three infections, Both catheters h ave proven useful and safe for long-lasting vascular access in patient s undergoing PBSCT, No statistical difference was found in infectious and non-infectious complications between either catheters.