Complications associated with indwelling catheters

Abstract

Between 1983 and 1985, 170 consecutive patients received doxorubicin-containing adjuvant chemotherapy through central venous catheters, and four via a long indwelling catheter in the antecubital fossa. The objective of this retrospective study is to determine the acute and chronic complications associated with indwelling catheters. Ninety-four (56%) patients did not experience any complications. The incidence of acute complications was 2%, which included three pneumothorax. Twenty-nine (17%) patients experienced chronic complications. Of those, 20 (12%) developed infectious complications, and 9 (19%) developed thrombus. In addition, 12 (7%) developed multiple complications, and 32 (19%) patients had other local complications at the catheter site, which included allergic reactions and catheter breakage. Each of these complications was resolved with appropriate treatment. None of the patients died from complications of the indwelling catheter.