D-dimer level for ruling out peripherally inserted central catheter-associated upper extremity deep vein thrombosis and superficial vein thrombosis.

AIMS To examine the effectiveness of D-dimer values to be used as an independent diagnostic marker for excluding peripherally inserted central catheter-associated upper extremity deep vein thrombosis and superficial vein thrombosis. DESIGN This was a retrospective case-cohort study. METHODS Records were reviewed for 281 patients who underwent peripherally inserted central catheter insertion between 1 October 2017 and 1 October 2019. According to the modified Wells score after peripherally inserted central catheter insertion, the patients who had low vein thrombosis risk underwent a D-dimer test and colour Doppler ultrasound. RESULTS Among 281 patients, 180 patients (64%, 95% CI: 58.2%-69.4%) had negative D-dimer results and 39 of 180 patients had vein thrombosis despite having a negative D-dimer result, resulting in a failure rate of 21.7% (95% CI: 16.3%-28.3%). The negative predictive value of peripherally inserted central catheter-associated vein thrombosis in the cancer group (80.0%, 95% CI: 73.2%-85.4%) was higher than that of the non-cancer group (60.0%, 95% CI: 35.7%-80.2%). The negative predictive value of peripherally inserted central catheter-associated deep venous thrombosis (84.9%, 95% CI: 78.7%-89.6%) was lower than that of the PICC-associated superficial venous thrombosis (91.0%, 95% CI: 85.4%-94.6%). CONCLUSION The D-dimer levels maybe should not be used as a diagnostic index to rule out peripherally inserted central catheter-associated upper extremity vein thrombosis.