Complications Related to Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters in Covid-19 Patients and the Potential of Insertion Technologies

Abstract

Objective: to assess the incidence of complications related to peripherally inserted central catheters in hospitalized adult patients with Covid-19 and to discuss the potential benefits of employing insertion technologies to prevent complications. Method: a descriptive, exploratory and cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2020 to December 2021 at a high-complexity hospital. The study included patients over 18 years old with a positive diagnosis for Covid-19 who made use of peripherally inserted central catheters for venous infusion. Data collection included sociodemographic and clinical information regarding catheter insertion and use. The analysis involved Chi-square and Fisher's Exact tests, with a significance level of 0.05. Results: a total of 123 inserted catheters were analyzed. The patients' mean age was 50 years old (SD=16.37), most of them male and in the acute phase of infection (59.3%). The following significant complications related to the insertion process were identified: catheter material (p=0.01); use of Sherlock (p=0.03); need for traction (p<0.001); number of punctures (p<0.001); and difficulty in catheter progression (p<0.001). Conclusion: the study identified the main complications related to the insertion and use of PICCs and showed that employing vascular visualization technologies such as ultrasound and Sherlock 3CG® can mitigate complications, as well as maximize patient comfort, experience and safety. The research provides support for the implementation of protocols for insertion and management of peripherally inserted central catheters, thus avoiding the occurrence of adverse events.