Peripheral placement of apheresis catheters in children: Feasibility, safety, and efficacy in the collection of blood stem cells - Initial experience

An 8-F 24-cm-long apheresis catheter was placed in the basilic vein with im aging-guided percutaneous technique in 15 children undergoing leukapheresis for collection of autologous peripheral blood stem cells. There were no im mediate or long-term complications. This is a low-morbidity procedure requi ring minimal sedation that results in successful collection of peripheral b lood stem cells and allows flow rates comparable to those with surgically p laced central catheters.