Central venous catheter database: an important issue in quality assurance

Background/PurposeThe purpose of this study was to analyze the factors that affect the longevity of central venous catheters.MethodsComprehensive clinical data recorded during insertion and removal of totally implantable devices (TID) and tunneled lines (TL) from October 1988 to January 2009 were analyzed. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to identify clinical factors that predict catheter longevity.ResultsInformation was available for 1167 central venous catheter insertions in 858 patients, 648 TID and 509 TL. Univariate analysis detected longer device longevity in the following: TID longer than TL (P < .0001), catheter tip in the superior vena cava (SVC)/right atrial junction (P < .0001), and right side greater than left (P = .002). Shorter device longevity was observed in lines used for total parenteral nutrition (P < .0001) and young age (P < .0001). Multivariate model detected the following: hazard of removal for TID is 0.304 that of TL (P < .0001) and SVC is 0.525 that of other locations (P = .0005). Hazard decreases by 5.4% for every 1-year increase in patient age (P < .0004).ConclusionMultiple confounding factors were encountered. However, the single most important factor in catheter longevity that is influenced by the surgeon is tip location in the SVC/right atrial junction.