LONG-TERM INTRAVENOUS THERAPY WITH USE OF PERIPHERALLY INSERTED SILICONE-ELASTOMER CATHETERS IN ORTHOPEDIC PATIENTS

We studied the results of prolonged intravenous therapy with antibioti cs through a central venous silicone-elastomer catheter that had been peripherally inserted in thirty-five orthopaedic patients. The cathete rs remained in place for an average of twenty-nine days (range, five t o seventy-four days). The 20-gauge (one-millimeter-diameter) catheters used in our study were smaller in diameter than the triple-lumen cath eters or the double-lumen Hickman catheters used in previous studies. The catheters in our study were left indwelling for as long as, or for longer than, those in other studies. Our patients had no serious comp lications related to the insertion or use of the catheter. However, th ree (8 per cent) of thirty-eight inserted catheters failed mechanicall y and had to be removed. Two additional catheters (5 per cent) were re moved because the lumen became plugged. One catheter in each of these groups was not replaced, because a catheter was no longer necessary. W e believe that the problems with the catheters were related to the sma ll diameter of the tubing that was used in our series. Use of the smal l-diameter catheter reduces the risk of cardiac tamponade and other co mplications associated with catheters that have larger diameters, and small-diameter catheters can remain indwelling for a long time. The pe ripheral route of insertion eliminates the risk of pneumothorax associ ated with the subclavian route of placement and allows for greater eas e of insertion. In addition, the use of catheters made of silicone ela stomer reduces the risk of thrombosis and infection, which are associa ted with catheters made of polyethylene. We found that long-term centr al venous access with small-gauge silicone-elastomer catheters that we re peripherally inserted was associated with an acceptably low rate of complications in our patients. Thus, we recommend the use of these ca theters in orthopaedic patients who need prolonged intravenous therapy .