[Central venous access: our experience with Hickman and Broviac catheter in children].

We report the results of a 4-years-experience with Hickman-Broviac double lumen silicone catheters. The catheters were inserted in 51 dialysed and nondialysed children. Forty three catheters were placed for temporary or permanent dialysis access, 2 in patients for plasmapheresis, 4 in severely burnt patients, and 2 in neonates with the "short gut" syndrome. The youngest patient was 7 days old and the eldest 14.5 years (mean age 5.4 years). The catheters were implanted by open surgery into the right atrium through the right (92%) or left internal jugular vein (8%) in more than 80% of patients. Ten catheters were implanted in the femoral vein (three through the saphenous vein: in a patient with extensive burns in the thorax and neck area, and in seven patients with acute renal failure and high risk for anaesthesia). The complications, except the insufficient flow, were fewer and less dangerous than those reported in literature. Therefore, we strongly recommend insertion of these catheters as the method of choice for immediate vascular access in children in whom the creation of conventional vascular access is difficult or impossible, as well as in patients in whom provision of long- term intravenous nutrition or medication is essential.