Abstract TP277: Stroke Related Limb Weakness Confers Thrombotic Complications With PICC Lines
Introduction: A peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC line) is a form of intravenous access that can be used for a prolonged period, which lowers the rate of infection. Our study aims to prove that PICC line insertion predicts a higher rate of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), especially in those receiving the PICC line in a weaker arm. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of stroke patients admitted to NeuroICU between September 2010 and October 2011 at a community teaching hospital. Patient records were evaluated for PICC line placement, DVT, Pulmonary Embolism (PE) development, and anticoagulant status. Odds ratios were calculated for the development of DVT and PE for PICC patients, as well as the outcomes for PICC line patients based on arm strength as defined with motor strength scale using SPSS software version 20. Results: The study included a total of 307 patients (mean age = 62.5 +/- 17.2, 51% female). Ninety-nine patients had a PICC line inserted, 22 of which developed DVT, including 10 patients who appeared to have PICC Line Related Large Venous Thrombosis. The presence of a PICC line conferred an increased risk (OR= 5.18, 95% CI, 2.40-11.2) for the development of a DVT. Patients who had a PICC line placed in a weaker arm (mean strength = 2.17) were more likely to develop a DVT than patients with a PICC line in a stronger arm (mean strength = 3.07) p<0.05. Patients given DVT prophylaxis were less likely to develop a DVT (OR = 0.32, 95% CI, .004 - .252) p < 0.05. Twenty-one patients had a CT chest angiogram performed, including six patients who had evidence of a PE. Of these six patients, one patient had a PICC line placement with subsequent development of DVT followed by PE. PICC line placement and DVT had no predictive value on the development of PE due to the small sample size. Conclusions: Our data suggests that patients who had a PICC line placed into a weaker strength arm had an increased risk of DVT in the same arm and that DVT prophylaxis significantly decreases this risk. Further studies should evaluate the predictive value of PICC line insertion with the risk of developing PE in stroke patients.