• Ghulam Haider, Shiyam Kumar, Basit Salam, Nehal Masood, Asim Jamal, and Yasmeen Abdul Rasheed.
• Oncology Department of Medicine, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
• J Pak Med Assoc. 2009 Oct 1;59(10):663-7.

ObjectiveTo determine the complication rate of (PICCs) peripherally inserted central catheters in cancer patients with a 1 year prospective cohort study.MethodsAll PICCs inserted in adult cancer patients in Radiology Department of The Aga Khan University Hospital were followed prospectively till removed or patient expired and pattern of complications noted.ResultsOne hundred and fourty six PICCs were inserted over a period of 1 year and followed for a total of 3329 catheter-days; median placement, 14 days: range 3-218 days. Of these 67 (32.8%) PICCs were complicated and removed earlier, for a rate of 14.4/1000 PICC-days. Patients with haematologic malignancies were more likely to have complications as compared to those with solid tissue malignancies.ConclusionsDespite a significant complication rate, PICCs are a relatively safe and cost effective method of establishing central venous access.

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