Midline catheters in the operating room

Abstract

Backgrounds: Among various vascular access devices, midline catheters (MCs) are commonly used in emergency departments, but rarely in operating rooms.

Aims: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of MCs in the operating room.

Materials and methods: This was a retrospective study. The medical records of patients who underwent MC placement in the operating room from October 2020 to July 2022 were reviewed. The rates of successful catheter insertion as well as major and minor complications were assessed.

Results: Successful catheter insertions were achieved in 149 of 161 patients (92.5%). The median dwell time of midlines was eight days (IQR: 6-10 days). A major or minor complication occurred in 6.7% of the midlines. The rates of major complications of occlusion, upper extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and catheter-related bloodstream infection were 1.3%, 0.7%, and 0%, respectively.

Conclusions: Placement of MCs in the operating room was feasible and safe. Also, the procedure provides an acceptable alternative for replacing central line catheters and peripherally inserted central catheters.

Keywords: Catheter-related bloodstream infection; central venous catheter; midline catheter; peripherally inserted central catheters.