Evaluation of the Occurrence of Early Thrombosis on Central Venous Catheter by Ultrasound in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

In pediatric resuscitation, the use of a percutaneous central venous catheter is essential. It allows to administer strong osmolarity intravenous drugs or prolonged duration treatment and to carry out blood samples.

In the course of the placement of a central venous catheter, there is a risk of occurrence of early thrombosis between 20 and 45%, appearing mainly in the 4 first days. The occurrence is explained by the Virchow triad: endothelial lesion (linked to the central venous catheter), venous stasis, hypercoagulability. Ultrasonography is an imaging test that can be performed at the bedside, allowing the non-invasive collection of diagnostic elements of thrombosis (visible thrombus, non-compressibility of the vein, abolition of venous flow). Performing ultrasound for thrombosis screening is essential because of a very low clinical expression of thrombosis, while the consequences are potentially severe, including infection, embolism, venous insufficiency and loss of venous access for children who will need several central venous catheters during their lifetime.

Despite the knowledge of certain risk factors (i.e. assisted ventilation, history of cancer, transfusions,...), there is actually no consensus for the systematic screening of venous thromboses on central venous catheters. Systematic thromboprophylaxis is not recommended for central venous catheters (grade 1B). Concerning the curative treatment of central venous catheter thrombosis, unfractionated heparin or low molecular weight heparin (grade 1B) is recommended. If the central venous catheter is no longer needed for the care, it can be removed after 3 to 5 days of anticoagulants (grade 2C). It can also be kept under cover of anticoagulant treatment if its use is essential (grade 2C).

The objective of this study is to prospectively describe the incidence of early venous thrombosis secondary to the placement of a percutaneous central venous catheter, in a pediatric intensive care unit, by the systematic ultrasound screening.