Reporting Standards for Central Venous Access

Abstract

CENTRAL venous access has become an integral component of modern medical care. Central venous access is defined as catheter placement with the tip positioned at the caval atrial region ( 1 Lewis CA Allen TE Burke DR et al. Quality improvement guidelines for central venous access. JVIR. 1997; 8: 475-479 Abstract Full Text PDF Scopus (72) Google Scholar ). The purpose of this document is to provide guidelines for reporting the methods and results of central venous access device (CVAD) studies (Table 1). Standardized reporting allows for comparison of the strengths and limitations of different devices, device insertion techniques, postprocedure care routines, and procedures to salvage device failure ( 2 Sacks D Marinelli DL Martin LG et al. General principles for evaluation of new interventional technologies and devices. JVIR. 1997; 8: 133-136 Abstract Full Text PDF Scopus (13) Google Scholar ). The following CVAD reporting guidelines present the elements that should be documented in a study. Table 1CVAD Reporting Guidelines R hr r MATERIALS AND METHODS Patient Data Patient selection/exclusion criteria X Patient demographic information Age X Sex X Underlying disease X Comorbid illness X History of previous CVAD Indication X Device type X Access site X Duration of use X Complications X Reason for device removal X Presence of coagulopathy X Potential risk factors for CVAD infection X Mental competence X Nutritional status/weight X Inpatient/outpatient X Indication for central venous access X CVAD Description (Due to the variability of the goals of CVAD studies, all of the descriptive elements are not listed as requirements. The elements in the text of a report should be tailored to the goals of the study.) Category Tunneled Untunneled Specifications Brand name/manufacturer Composition Coating Number of lumens Number of catheters External catheter diameter External catheter shape Internal luminal diameter(s) Internal luminal shape(s) Number/size of side holes Configuration of catheter tip Subcutaneous cuff Method of device fixation to skin/subcutaneous tissues External interface Flow characteristics Procedure Description Aseptic precautions Procedure room X Antibiotics X Mask, cap, gown, etc. X Operator/institutional experience X Anesthesia X Device insertion Initial venous access Selection of venous puncture site X Patient positioning X Vein localization Imaging guidance X Access needle X Coaxial access system X Catheterization attempts X CVAD insertion X Wound closure and dressing X Post-procedure imaging X CVAD Maintenance Maintenance provider X Dressing routine X Catheter flush routine X OUTCOME EVALUATION Follow-up Method Prospective or retrospective X Interval X Duration X Imaging studies X CVAD survival Technical success/failure X Initial device service interval X Revised device service interval(s) X Revisions per 100 catheter days X Revisions per access site X Total access site service interval X Complications Diagnosis/management X Early X Late X Infections per 100 catheter days X Malfunctions per 100 catheter days X Cost X Note.—R = required, hr = highly recommended, r = recommended. Open table in a new tab Note.—R = required, hr = highly recommended, r = recommended.