Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters Confer Risk for Upper-Extremity Venous Thromboembolism

Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC) are convenient, cost-effective, and increasingly popular. However, they are associated with upper-extremity deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), which complicate treatment and are linked to morbidity, mortality, and higher costs. Researchers pooled observational data from 64 studies of PICCs (30,000 patients) to determine the incidence of thromboembolic events. Patient populations, comparison devices, indications for catheter placement, methods of DVT detection, and use of pharmacologic DVT prophylaxis varied among studies.

In 52 studies without comparison groups, overall incidence of upper-extremity DVT was 5%, with higher incidences among patients in intensive care units (…