Reasons of non-planned decannulation of peripheraly inserted central catheters and their prevention

Objective To analyze the reasons of non-planned decannulation (NPD) of peripheraly inserted central catheter (PICC) and explore the applicable prevention strategies.Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 432 patients who underwent PICC cannulations maintenance between July 2005 and June 2008.The reasons of 26 cases of NPD were analyzed.Results The main reasons of NPD included cannulation occlusion,cannulation ectopia or translocation,cannulation exfoliation,cannulation-related infections,mechanical phlebitis,and thrombus formation.The complications usually were caused by the poor cannulation material,incorrect fixation,top of canuulation not reaching superior vena cava,lack of management measures for outpatients,accidents,and others.Effective measures for preventing NPD included:use silica gel cannulation;ensure the top of canuulation reach the superior vena cava;and improve the communications between outpatients and nurses.Conclusion NPD of PICC may be caused by various reasons and effective prevention measures should be taken. Key words: Non-planned decannulation; Cannulation material; Cause; Preventative measures; Peripheraly inserted central catheter