Central Venous Catheter Clots: Incidence, Clinical Significance and Catheter Care in Patients with Hematologic Malignancies

In a 7-month period we studied 38 Hickman central venous catheters (CVCs) positioned in children with hematologic malignancies with the aim of evaluating the incidence and clinical impact of CVC clots. Clots were found in 74% of the CVCs. Three methods of catheter care were developed for flushing the clotted CVCs: (a) use of a heparinized solution (400 IU/mL) on alternate days, (b) use of a heparinized solution (400 IU/mL) and saline solution containing urokinase (10,000 IU/mL) on alternate days, and (c) use of a saline solution containing urokinase (10,000 IU/mL) daily. Only method b decreased clot formation (33% success rate). There were no major mechanical complications in any of the CVCs with clots. Eighteen percent of patients with clots in their CVCs presented with CVC-related infections while no infective complications were observed in the patients without clots in their CVCs. In conclusion, CVC clots may predispose the patient to infections, which must be correctly treated.