Complications and its risk factors of percutaneous subclavian vein catheters in pediatric patients: enhancing the outcomes of a university hospital in a low-income and middle-income country.

Objective: Assessing central venous catheter-related complications with regular feedback and investigating risk factors are mandatory to enhance outcomes. The aim of this study is to assess our experience in the management of pediatric subclavian vein catheters (SVCs) and to investigate the main risk factors for complications.

Methods: In this prospective observational study, we included children aged 3 months to 14 years who underwent infraclavicular subclavian vein catheterization consecutively using the anatomic landmark technique. Patients were divided into two groups: group 1 included complicated catheters and group 2 included non-complicated catheters. The management protocol was standardized for all patients. After comparing the two groups, univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to investigate the risk factors for complications.

Results: In this study, we included 134 pediatric patients. The rate of complications was 32.8%. The main complications were central line-associated bloodstream infection (63.6%), bleeding and/or hematoma (22.7%), mechanical complications (13.6%), and vein thrombosis (13.6%). After adjustment for confounding factors, predictors of catheter-related complications were difficult insertion procedure (adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=9.4; 95% confidential interval (CI): 2.32 to 38.4), thrombocytopenia (aOR=4.43; 95% CI: 1.16 to 16.86), comorbidities (aOR=2.93; 95% CI: 0.58 to 14.7), and neutropenia (aOR=5.45; 95% CI: 2.29 to 13.0).

Conclusions: High rates of complications were associated with difficult catheter placement and patients with comorbidities and severe thrombocytopenia. To reduce catheter-related morbidity, we suggest an ultrasound-guided approach, a multidisciplinary teaching program to improve nursing skills, and the use of less invasive devices for patients with cancer.