Effectiveness of Synthetic Polymer-coated Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter in Patients With Advanced Cancer.

Background/Aim: A peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) is recommended for the safe administration of anticancer agents. The effectiveness of synthetic polymer-coated and non-coated PICCs was compared. Patients and Methods: Patients with advanced cancers who had indwelling PICCs were reviewed using their medical records. Three types of PICCs were compared in terms of complications and catheter failure. Results: A total of 90 patients were retrospectively analyzed, including 31 with Groshong PICCs, 30 with Argyle PICC kit, and 29 with Argyle PICC kit II. The incidence of catheter failure for Groshong PICC, Argyle PICC kit, and Argyle PICC kit II per 1,000 PICC days was 4.4614, 5.6617, and 0.8658, respectively. Catheter failure free survival in the Argyle PICC kit II group was significantly better than that in the Argyle PICC kit group (p=0.0339). Conclusion: Argyle PICC kit II, a synthetic polymer-coated PICC, may render longer patency and prevention of catheter failure than non-coated PICCs.