Long-term intravenous therapy with peripherally inserted silicone elastomer central venous catheters in patients with malignant diseases.

Peripherally inserted central venous silicone elastomer catheters were studied in 81 patients who had malignancy requiring prolonged intravenous therapy. The catheters remained in place from 5 to 171 days, with a median of 30 days. Ninety-one percent of the catheters were unassociated with clinical complications. Six percent of 87 inserted catheters were removed due to peripheral thrombophlebitis. Two patients developed subclavian thrombosis, requiring catheter removal. One patient had catheter-related sepsis with Staphylococcus aureus. Bacteria grew from eleven percent of the cultured catheter tips. Indwelling catheters presence did not appear to influence response to antibiotic therapy. We conclude from this pilot study that long-term central venous access with peripherally inserted silicone elastomer catheters has an acceptably low complication rate in a high-risk patient population.