Use of Broviac/Hickman catheter for long-term venous access in pediatric cancer patients.

Forty-two indwelling central venous catheters were inserted in 29 pediatric patients with malignant solid tumors. Indications included pre- and postoperative parenteral nutrition, intensive chemo-radiotherapy and bone marrow transplantation. Fifteen of the central venous catheters (15 patients) were Broviac/Hickman and remaining 27 catheters (14 patients) were traditional Silastic. Accidental displacements occurred in seven of the 27 Silastics (26%), whereas no Broviac catheter was inadvertently pulled out. Overall complication rates, including infection, accidental removal, and occlusion of the catheter, were 9.6 per 1,000 Silastic use days and 0.35 per 1,000 Broviac use days. No deaths were related to catheter complications. For long-term angioaccess in pediatric cancer patient the Broviac catheter was demonstrated to have a lower complication rate than the traditional Silastic catheter.