https://doi.org/10.1177/1129729820982870
The Journal of Vascular Access
1–7
© The Author(s) 2020
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DOI: 10.1177/1129729820982870
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Introduction
Venous access is one of the basic, yet critical components
of patient care in any health care setting. Right choice of
venous access device in a patient can provide uninter-
rupted therapy with consequent reduction in discomfort,
morbidity, length of stay and costs incurred.
1
Peripheral
Intravenous Cannulas (PIVC) are used in patients requir-
ing short term access for 72 to 96 h and Centrally inserted
Central Catheters (CICC) are inserted in patients who
require multiple infusions, critically ill and cared in inten-
sive care units.
2
There is another subset of patient population suffering
from high risk medical and surgical conditions, with
multiple comorbidities and chronic infections treated in
the wards. These patients require venous access for
1–4 weeks and their medications are hyperosmolar and
irritant, prone to cause chemical phlebitis if infused
through PIVC. Long Peripheral Catheters (LPC) are ideal
Conventional central venous
catheters as tunnelled mid-clavicular
midline catheters: Description of novel
application and outcome analysis
Sivashanmugam Thiyagarajan
and Charulatha Ravindran
Abstract
Background: Long peripheral catheters are the ideal devices for intermediate venous access (1–4 weeks). However due
to non-availability and cost constraints, these lines are not widely adapted in developing countries. In this clinical report
we describe a technique of using conventional Central Venous Catheters as Midclavicular midlines for intermediate
venous access and present the outcome analysis of such catheters in the last 2 years from our institute.
Methods: A single lumen conventional central venous catheter (5 Fr, 20 cm) was introduced through the deep veins
of the upper arm, 1 to 1.5 cm distal to the axillary crease. The catheter was tunnelled for a distance of 5 to 7 cm to
exit from Dawson’s green zone to reduce the incidence of Midline Associated Blood Stream Infection. Patients were
followed up by trained staff nurses and outcome parameters were recorded.
Results: Seventy six patients were enrolled and 72 patients underwent successful cannulation and completed the
outcome analysis. Administration of intravenous antibiotics and chemotherapy were the commonest indications. The
device served the intended duration of therapy in 66 (92%) patients for a median number of 12 (6–20) catheter days.
Device related blood stream infection was 1.24/1000 catheter days and catheter related thrombosis rate was 8.3%.
Conclusion: Conventional Central Venous Catheters can be effectively used as tunnelled Midclavicular midline catheters
in low resource settings. The successful outcome analysis has to be confirmed by larger studies.
Keywords
Venous access, intermediate, axillary vein, tunnelled catheters, cost effective
Date received: 5 July 2020; accepted: 29 November 2020
Department of Anaesthesiology, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College
and Research Institute, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth Deemed University,
Puducherry 607402, India
Corresponding author:
Charulatha Ravindran, Department of Anaesthesiology, Mahatma
Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth
Deemed University, Room number 211, Puducherry 607402, India.
Email: ravindrancharulatha@gmail.com
982870JVA 0 0 10.1177/1129729820982870The Journal of Vascular AccessThiyagarajan and Ravindran
research-article 2020
Original research article