Evaluating the Length of Central Venous Catheters in Indian Patients
Author Information
Author(s): Joshi Saurabh, Kulkarni Anita, Bhargava A. K.
Primary Institution: Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre, Rohini, New Delhi, India
Hypothesis
The study aims to evaluate the relationship between patient height and the optimal length of peripherally inserted central venous catheter (PICC) fixation.
Conclusion
The appropriate length of catheter fixation correlates well with the height of the patient, with a significant incidence of malpositioning in right-sided catheters.
Supporting Evidence
- 55.5% of the catheter tip placements were acceptable.
- The incidence of malpositioning of catheter tips is 15.5%.
- Right-sided PICCs are more prone to malpositioning, predominantly in short heighted people.
Takeaway
Doctors can use a patient's height to decide how long a central venous catheter should be, which helps avoid problems with the catheter being placed incorrectly.
Methodology
The study involved 200 patients scheduled for elective major cancer surgeries, using a specific catheter length based on patient height and confirming tip location via chest X-ray.
Potential Biases
Potential bias in catheter placement due to the subjective choice of arm based on vein availability.
Limitations
The study may not be generalizable to populations outside of the specific demographic studied.
Participant Demographics
Patients aged above 20 years, with a predominance of females in the shorter height group and males in the taller height group.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.002
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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