Efficacy of the CathRite system to guide bedside placement of peripherally inserted central venous catheters in critically ill patients: a pilot study

ABSTRACT

Objectives: To assess the efficacy of the CathRite system as a tool to guide clinicians in placement of peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) into the superior vena cava (SVC) in critically ill patients.

Design: Prospective, randomised, parallel controlled trial.

Participants and setting: 38 critically ill patients (mean APACHE II score, 16.6) in a mixed medical and surgical intensive care unit from 2004 to 2006.

Interventions: Participants were randomised to receive PICC placement using either the CathRite system or a standard “blind” technique (control). Peripheral vein cannulation was performed for both groups under ultrasound monitoring, and the PICC was placed using the modified Seldinger technique, with position confirmed using standard chest x-ray.

Main outcome measures: Proportion of PICCs guided into the SVC; placement into the lower third of the SVC; and time to complete placement.

Results: There was no significant difference between groups in sex distribution or age (CathRite: 12 men, 7 women; mean age ± SEM, 61.1 ± 3.4 years; control:15 men, 4 women; 55.9 ± 4.7 years). The PICC was successfully guided into the SVC in 19 patients (100%) in the CathRite group, compared with 14 (74%) in the control group(P < 0.05).Placement of catheters into the lower third of the SVC was achieved in 14 patients (74%) in the CathRite group, compared with eight (42%) in the control group(P < 0.05). Time to completion of catheter insertion was 31.4 ± 16.2 minutes in the CathRite group compared with 24.6 ± 14.5 minutes in the control group (P = 0.18).

Conclusions: The CathRite system enabled placement of PICCs into the SVC from peripheral insertion sites and avoided ectopic placements that occurred with the blind technique.

Crit Care Resusc 2007; 9: 251–255