Comparative Study of Catheter Structure Types on Venous Thrombosis in Cancer Patients with Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters

Background: Cancer patients with peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) are prone to venous thrombosis, occlusion, and other complications due to the disease itself, chemotherapy, age, and other factors. Objectives: The present study aimed to assess the effect of different catheter materials on thrombosis in cancer patients with PICCs. Methods: The clinical data of 110 cancer patients with PICCs implanted in an outpatient clinic of our hospital from January 2018 to June 2019 were collected. The valveless group comprised patients with catheter cancers without valvular structures and high-pressure resistant polyurethane material (n=58), and the valved group comprised patients with catheter cancers with valvular structures and high-pressure resistant polyurethane material (n=52). Results: In the valveless group, 25 (43.1%) patients had total venous thrombosis, which was significantly higher than that of the valved group (n=11 patients; 21.15%) (P=0.028). In 7 out of 11 (78.85%) patients with thrombosis in the valved group, the thrombosis initiation vein was the axillary vein/subclavian vein, while the basilica/brachial vein was the thrombosis initiation vein in 18 out of 25 patients (43.10%) in the valveless group (P=0.043). There was no statistical difference between the two groups in terms of underlying diseases, thrombosis time, and extension in patients with thrombosis(P>0.05). Conclusion: As evidenced by the obtained results, the catheter-inverted cone structure may be a factor of venous thrombosis. Therefore, the structure of catheters before catheterization should be considered and evaluated.