Types and frequencies of complications associated with midline catheters and PICCs in a South Tyrolean district hospital: a retrospective cohort study

Abstract

Specialized registered nurses play a key role in the insertion and management of peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) and midline catheters in Anglo-Saxon countries. From the German-speaking area no data on the use of PICCs and midline catheters are available. The aim of this study was to describe the types and frequencies of complications of PICCs and midline catheters which were inserted by specialized registered nurses in a South Tyrolean district hospital. We performed a retrospective cohort study of PICCs and midline catheters inserted between 2013 and 2015 in one surgical unit in the district hospital Bruneck (South Tyrol / Italy). Data from 900 catheters (421 midline catheters and 479 PICCs) inserted in 686 adult patients (404 women, 282 men) were analysed. The cumulative incidence was 29.2 % complications for midline catheters (incidence rate: 13 complications / 1000 catheter days) and 16.0 % for PICCs (incidence rate: 3 complications / 1000 catheter days). The most frequent complication was the removal of the catheter by the patients (PICCs: 6.7 %, midline catheters: 15.7 %). Other less frequent complications were mechanical complications, occlusions, infections and thromboses. This study in one district hospital revealed similar types and frequencies of complications as previous international studies. Specialized and clinically competent nurses in German-speaking countries could develop advanced roles in the insertion and management of PICCs and midline catheters.