Long term parenteral therapy by percutaneous tunneled silicone central venous catheter--a follow-up of 300 catheters.

We have developed a technique for the management of central venous catheters which incorporates percutaneous insertion and daily care for routine use in different wards. A follow-up of the first 300 catheters is presented. When intravenous therapy was planned for more than two weeks, a silicone rubber catheter was introduced percutaneously with a skin tunnel and the position of the tip in the lower superior vena cava checked by venous pressure measurement. The metal hub of the catheter was disinfected daily by heating with a modified soldering iron which has been proved to be effective by in vitro testing with different microorganisms. The external jugular vein was used in 164 cases (55 per cent) the internal jugular vein in 115 (38 per cent) and the remaining catheters were inserted by the subclavian or antecubital route. Correct positioning was obtained in 96 per cent and serious early or late complications were rare there being only one case of septicaemia in a total treatment period of 270 months. One patient developed a lung infarct, but no case of pneumothorax has been seen. The mean duration of the catheters was 27 days (range 1-239) and the common reasons for termination were cessation of need in 84 per cent, mechanical obstruction in 6 per cent and inadvertent removal in 6 per cent. The described method has proved to be safe and to function well on ordinary wards.