Peripherally inserted central catheter placement in cancer patients with profound thrombocytopaenia: a prospective analysis.

Objective: No studies have specifically evaluated the safety of peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) placement in patients with profound thrombocytopaenia. We prospectively determined the frequency of haemorrhagic complications of PICC placement in cancer patients with uncorrected profound thrombocytopaenia.

Methods: Profound thrombocytopaenia was defined as a platelet count <50 × 10(9)/l.