Early removal of a permanent catheter during the acute management of the unstable pediatric hemato-oncology patient with suspected catheter-related bloodstream infection: a multi-disciplinary survey and review of the literature

Purpose: There are no guidelines for the optimal manner and timing of permanent central catheter removal in the hemodynamically unstable pediatric hemato-oncology patient with suspected catheter related bloodstream infections (CRBSI). Our goals were to examine current practices of permanent central catheter management and choice of removal in the hemodynamically unstable pediatric patient with suspected CRBSI among practitioners in diverse subspecialties. Methods We performed a literature review on the subject, and conducted a multi-disciplinary survey included pediatric oncologists, pediatric emergency medicine physicians, and pediatric intensive care physicians whom we queried about their choice of permanent central catheter management and removal while treating the hemodynamically unstable pediatric patient with suspected CRBSI. Results Most of the 78 responders ( n  = 47, 59%) preferred to utilize the existing permanent central catheter for initial intravenous access rather than an alternative access. There were no significant differences between physician subspecialties ( p  = 0.29) or training levels ( p  = 0.14). Significantly more pediatric emergency medicine physicians preferred not to remove the permanent central catheter at any time point compared to the pediatric hemato-oncologists, who preferred to remove it at some point during the acute presentation (44.4% vs. 9.4%, respectively, p  = 0.02). Conclusions Our study findings reflect the need for uniform guidelines on permanent central catheter use and indications for its removal in the hemodynamically unstable pediatric patient. We suggest that permanent central catheter removal should be urgently considered in a deteriorating patient who failed to be stabilized with medical treatment.