A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Complications associated with central venous access device in children with haemophilia: a nationwide multicentre study in Finland
Authors: Vepsalainen K, Lassila R, Arola M, Lahteenmaki P, Mottonen M, Makipernaa A, Riikonen P
Publisher: WILEY-BLACKWELL
Publication year: 2015
Journal: Haemophilia
Journal name in source: HAEMOPHILIA
Journal acronym: HAEMOPHILIA
Volume: 21
Issue: 6
First page : 747
Last page: 753
Number of pages: 7
ISSN: 1351-8216
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/hae.12665
Children with haemophilia require venous access for regular infusion of coagulation factors. A central venous access device (CVAD) ensures long-term access but associates with infectious and non-infectious complications with proposed risk factors of young age at initial CVAD implantation and presence of an inhibitor. Our aim was to evaluate the incidence and risk factors for complications associated with CVAD usage in a retrospective nationwide multicentre study in five Finnish Paediatric Haemophilia Treatment Centers. Our study investigated 106 CVADs in 58 patients with 137971 CVAD days. The median access survival was 1159 CVAD days, and most often a malfunction led to CVAD removal after a long survival (median of 1640 CVAD days). We detected a very low bloodstream infection rate (0.12/1000 CVAD days). The presence of neutralizing inhibitor was a significant risk factor for infection. Heparin vs. saline flushing did not influence the CVAD outcome. We detected a lower infection rate than previously reported, although 90% of the patients were very young (<2years) at first insertion (median age=1.02year). Port access was frequent after initial implantation: six patients (10%) used the port daily for immune tolerance induction therapy and 74% at least twice weekly for prophylaxis. Young age did not increase the risk of infections, as 59% of the CVAD-related infections were recorded in children over 6years of age. Our national experience confirms the safety of prophylactic factor concentrate administration via ports even in very young children.