Today many patients with cancer have indwelling long-term central venous catheters. Benefits from catheter use include increased ease of administration of either chemotherapy or other drugs. However, these patients are prone to a number of complications, including deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and infection. Two kinds of catheter-related thrombi may develop: sleeve thrombi developing on the outside of intravenous catheters and occlusive DVT. Recent studies have demonstrated that the prevalence of pulmonary embolism in patients with arm DVT is high, and it is close to that observed in cohorts of patients with lower-extremity DVT. Accordingly, some kind of prophylaxis seems to be warranted. Furthermore, patients with confirmed catheter-related DVT should receive long-term anticoagulant therapy.

Keywords:
Cancer, Catheter, Thrombosis, venous
© 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel
2001
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.