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PIcc Cost EffectiveneSS and Safety of Infusional Therapy

Not Applicable
Conditions
Thrombosis
Infection
Interventions
Other: Central venous catheter
Other: Peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC)
Registration Number
NCT03392831
Lead Sponsor
Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre
Brief Summary

Infusion therapy comprises the parenteral administration of solutions, through peripheral or central vascular access. Some solutions and drugs are highly irritating to the vascular endothelium and therefore cannot be administered in peripheral vessels, because increase the risk of phlebitis and/or tissue necrosis. Thus, the alternative is the central venous catheter (CVC) where the access can be by direct puncture of a central vessel or peripheral vessel puncture with progression of the catheter until central positioning, through a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC).

We must take into account that indication, insertion, handling and maintenance must be balanced with risks, benefits and costs. The insertion and maintenance of both catheters are not free of complications. Among the most frequent are: Infection, thrombosis, lumen occlusion and accidental early removal of the catheter. This often implies in the need for new vascular access, impacting on morbidity and increased treatment costs.

The PICC has some advantages over CVC, for example: avoids repetitive punctures and consequently decreased handling/pain; a lower risk of infection; avoids the use of venous dissections; reduces the risks of pneumothorax/hemothorax; reduces the risk of infiltration, extravasation, necrosis tissue and chemical phlebitis. Further, the PICC can be used as a long-term catheter with easy handling in extra-hospital condition. All these advantages suggest that this technology offers lower cost to the health system and more benefits for patients. However, PICC is not available for use in infusion therapy in patients of the Brazilian public health system, except for neonates.

The available literature does not address cost-effectiveness studies of this technology in the international scope comparing the PICC versus CVC. And, similarly, we do not have studies conducted in Brazil to incorporate this technology into our public health system, based on its benefits and potential cost reduction.

In order to fill this gap, this study aims to test if the use of PICC in patients with infusional therapy equal or superior to 10 days (Intervention Group), will show a lower incidence in the outcomes (infection, thrombosis or mechanical complications), besides being more cost-effective when compared to the use of CVC of short stay (Control Group).

Detailed Description

Patient recruitment: Adult and pediatric patients will be included during hospitalization in the clinical/surgical units at the Hospital de ClĂ­nicas de Porto Alegre.

Variables of registry: Clinical data (diagnosis, reason for indication of catheter, site of insertion, vessel size, pharmacological treatment); Socio-demographic (age, sex, education, income); Ultrasonography (vessel evaluation); Radiography (to ensure the correct positioning of the catheter); economic variables (costs of all inputs used).

Data collection: All variables will be recorded in an instrument developed by the authors.

Statistical analysis: Continuous variables will be described using means and standard deviations or median and range in case of asymmetric distribution of data. Categorical variables will be presented using frequency distribution. Analyses will be conducted using chi-square and t tests for independent samples. P values \<0.05 will be considered statistically significant. A Statistical Package for Social Sciences v.20.0 will be used. The Cox Regression Analysis and Log-rank test will compare the groups in relation to complication-free survival.

Cost-effectiveness analysis: The cost-effectiveness analysis will be measured by the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER), showed by the difference in cost between intervention and control group, divided by the difference in their effect. It represents the average incremental cost associated with 1 additional unit of the measure of effect. The cost-effectiveness analysis will be based on the cost estimate for insertion and maintenance of the catheter, including values of the inputs used, medicines, costs with professionals, surgical environment, laboratory and imaging exams.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
624
Inclusion Criteria
  • Patient above 5 years old,
  • Hospitalized,
  • With prescription of infusion therapy for 10 days or more of antibiotics, antineoplastics or other drugs with a pH lower than 5 or higher than 9 and / or osmolarity above 900 mOsm / l, parenteral nutrition or hypertonic solutions.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Insertion of the central catheter in emergency situations.
  • Critical patient in the acute or terminal stage;
  • Chronic renal disease stage IV or V and indication of hemodialysis;
  • Pediatric patients with leukemia until the induction phase;
  • Adult patients diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia;
  • Autologous and allogenic marrow transplantation;
  • Upper limb with anatomical alteration, presence of arteriovenous fistula, axillary emptying or previous vascular procedure;
  • Presence of skin changes in the area of the puncture, such as thrombophlebitis, dermatitis, cellulitis, burn among others;
  • Patient using crutches or devices that require exertion or support in the upper limbs.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Central venous catheterCentral venous catheterThe central venous catheter (CVC), with a short stay of 3 to 7 French gauges with one or more lumens.
Peripherally inserted central catheterPeripherally inserted central catheter (PICC)The peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) with 3 to 6 French calibers, with one, two or three lumens Groshong and PowerPICC models. These calibers are dependent on the amount of lumens, which are used for single or concomitant infusions.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
thrombotic complicationsup to 30 days or the end of therapy

radiographically-confirmed upper-extremity deep vein thrombosis

mechanical complicationsup to 30 days or the end of therapy

chest X-ray

infectious complicationsup to 30 days or the end of therapy

bloodstream infection

accidental removalup to 30 days or need for another catheter

obstruction or accidental removal

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Cost Effectivenessup to 30 days or the end of therapy

reduction of the rates composite outcome of complications

* Catheter occlusion: significant reduction of infusion flow or an impairment of blood back-flow;

* Catheter damage, malposition and catheter migration.

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