Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31302737›Full record

Observational studyPediatric radiology2019

Evaluation of implanted venous port-a-caths in children with medical complexity and neurologic impairment.

Paymun Pezeshkpour, Nicholas C Armstrong, Sanjay Mahant, Prakash Muthusami, Joao G Amaral, Dimitri A Parra, Michael J Temple, Bairbre L Connolly

Abstract readObservational Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in Pediatric radiology, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Core Tenets of Central Venous Access in Children.Seminars in interventional radiology · 2025
    Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
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  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Paymun PezeshkpourImage Guided Therapy Centre, Diagnostic Imaging Department, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave., Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada. paymun.pezeshkpour@sickkids.ca.ORCID 0000-0003-0526-5369
Nicholas C ArmstrongImage Guided Therapy Centre, Diagnostic Imaging Department, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave., Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada.
Sanjay MahantDepartment of Pediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Prakash MuthusamiImage Guided Therapy Centre, Diagnostic Imaging Department, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave., Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada.
Joao G AmaralImage Guided Therapy Centre, Diagnostic Imaging Department, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave., Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada.
Dimitri A ParraImage Guided Therapy Centre, Diagnostic Imaging Department, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave., Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada.
Michael J TempleImage Guided Therapy Centre, Diagnostic Imaging Department, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave., Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada.
Bairbre L ConnollyImage Guided Therapy Centre, Diagnostic Imaging Department, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave., Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundChildren with medical complexity and associated neurologic impairment frequently face difficulties with venous access. Intermittently they require urgent intravenous administration of fluids and medication.

objectiveTo analyze the use of implanted port-a-caths in children with medical complexity who have neurologic impairment and difficult venous access. MATERIALS AND

methodsWe performed a single-center observational study of port-a-caths placed by interventional radiologists in children with medical complexity with neurologic impairment. We analyzed peripheral intravenous access attempts, peripheral intravenous starts, peripheral intravenous complications, alternative temporary central venous access devices, port-a-cath insertions, catheter days, access days, port-a-cath-related complications, hospital admissions and emergency department visits. We compared the year pre port-a-cath to the year post port-a-cath.

resultsTwenty-one children with medical complexity with neurologic impairment (10 boys, 11 girls; median age 4.1 years; median weight 13.7 kg) underwent 26 port-a-cath insertions (median catheter days 787). In the year post port-a-cath compared to pre port-a-cath there was a highly significant reduction (P<0.001) in numbers of peripheral intravenous attempts, peripheral intravenous starts and skin punctures; and a significant reduction (P<0.05) in need for other devices, number of emergency department visits, emergency department visits resulting in hospital admissions, and total admissions. Adverse events were graded as mild (n=18), moderate (n=6) and severe (n=0).

conclusionPort-a-cath placement in children with medical complexity with neurologic impairment significantly reduced all peripheral intravenous attempts, peripheral intravenous starts, skin punctures, total number of emergency department visits, visits culminating in admission, and total number of inpatient admissions. Advantages must be considered against potential port-a-cath-related adverse events.

Indexed as

Nervous System DiseasesChildChild, PreschoolFemaleFluoroscopyFollow-Up StudiesHumansInfantMaleRadiology, InterventionalRetrospective StudiesUltrasonography, InterventionalVascular Access DevicesVascular Surgical ProceduresChildrenDifficult venous accessInterventional radiologyPort-a-cathReduced morbidityTechnology dependence

Identifiers

PMID31302737

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.