2014 Volume 29 Issue 6 Pages 405-410
The Groshong valve-type peripherally inserted central venous catheter (PICC) was introduced for patients with malignant disease who require long-term treatment at the Department of Hematology and Oncology. This study included 80 of 148 patients treated with the central venous catheter (CVC) before the introduction of the PICC (CVC group), and 57 of 66 patients treated with the PICC (PICC group). Central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) rates were 5.3/1,000 catheter-days (CDs) in the CVC group and 1.0/1,000 CDs in the PICC group, showing a significantly lower rate of CLABSIs in the PICC group than in the CVC group (p<0.01). PICC insertion caused no complications. The mean indwelling time was 72.8 days in the PICC group, which was at least twice that in the CVC group (p<0.01). Maintenance of the Groshong valve-type PICC required only a weekly saline flush, so this catheter was suitable for chemotherapy patients who required repeated hospitalization. The lower CLABSI rate and longer indwelling time of the PICC significantly reduced the number of catheters required per patient to 1.2 in the PICC group compared to 1.9 in the CVC group (p<0.01). Therefore, the PICC was effective in preventing infection, ensuring safe infusion, and providing a cost-effective CVC device for patients requiring long-term treatment at the Department of Hematology and Oncology.
