Title: 531: Complications of central venous catheters during pregnancy
Abstract: To determine the incidence of central venous catheter related complications during pregnancy and to identify risk factors for complications. A retrospective case series of patients who were admitted for obstetric care at a tertiary care teaching hospital and had a central venous catheter placed between January 1, 2000 and July 10, 2006. Data regarding patient characteristics, the indication for admission and placement of venous catheter, as well as the associated complications were collected. Descriptive statistics and categorical comparisons were performed. We identified 85 patients who had a total of 97 central catheters placed during the study interval. Seventy-six percent of the catheters were placed antepartum at a mean gestational age of 24.7 ± 10.7 weeks. Indications for catheter placement included: failed peripheral intravenous access (n=58, 61%), long term venous access (n=32, 34%) and other (n=5, 5%). The overall incidence of central venous catheter related complications was 25% (24/97). Complications included: culture-proven line infection 50% (12/24), mechanical failure 17% (4/24), presumed line infection 8% (2/24), superficial and deep venous thrombosis 8% (2/24), hematoma 8% (2/24), ventricular tachycardia 4% (1/24), and discomfort 4% (1/24). Caucasian race (P=.04), admission to the hospital for hyperemesis gravidarum (P=.03) and Crohn′s disease exacerbation (P=.01) were associated with an increased risk of central venous catheter complication. The incidence of central venous catheter related complication during pregnancy is comparable to that of the general medicine population. Admission to the hospital for hyperemesis gravidarum and Crohn disease exacerbation may predispose these patients to central catheter complication.