Factors associated with complications related to the use of peripherally inserted central venous catheter in hospitalized children: a case-control study, Sorocaba, Brazil, 2018-2022.

Objective: To evaluate factors associated with complications related to the use of peripherally inserted central venous catheters in children undergoing surgical procedures.

Methods: This was a case-control study, conducted in a public hospital in Sorocaba, with an emphasis on surgical procedures, between 2018 and 2022. Electronic medical records were used as a source of information. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were calculated.

Results: The study included 109 children aged up to 2 years 11 months and 29 days of age, of which 62 were cases and 47 were controls. The frequency of complications related to the use of peripherally inserted central venous catheters was 56.9% (95%CI 47.3; 66.0), and the most frequent complications were obstruction (30.3%) (95%CI 22.3; 39.7), accidental removal (10.1%) and hyperemia (9.2%). There was a greater chance of complications when the child remained in the neonatal pediatric intensive care unit (OR 5.45; 95%CI 1.20; 24.8) and when maintaining intravenous hydration (OR 3.71; 95%CI 1.02; 13.52). Female children (OR 2.93; 95%CI 1.24; 6.91), using total parenteral nutrition (OR 2.97; 95%CI 1.11; 7.94) and with Down syndrome (OR 19.19; 95%CI 2.23; ∞) had a higher chance of obstruction.

Conclusion: Children in intensive care and receiving intravenous hydration had a higher chance of complications. Understanding the factors associated with complications benefits patients, healthcare institutions and the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS).