Central Venous Catheter Removal After Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant: A Review and Perspective
Central venous catheters (CVCs) are a cornerstone of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), facilitating the delivery of chemotherapy, parenteral nutrition, medications, and blood products. Despite CVCs' essential role, prolonged use can lead to complications such as increased risk of infection, thrombosis, mechanical issues, and psychosocial burden. However, the timing of CVC removal remains highly variable across institutions. Additionally, there are no standardized guidelines to balance the benefits of extended access against the risks of prolonged use. This narrative review examines the existing literature on CVC management post-HSCT, highlighting key factors influencing the removal timing, such as patient characteristics, disease-specific considerations, and institutional practices. The review emphasizes the urgent need for multi-institutional research and standardized protocols to improve outcomes, reduce complications, and enhance the quality of care for HSCT patients.
Authors
- Robyn Blacken
- Kasiani C. Myers (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5528-4405)
- Leslie Lehmann (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5558-4830)
- Sonata Jodele (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1791-7718)
- Seth J. Rotz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2896-1113)
- Ken H. Young (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5755-8932)
- Loretta Parker (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2869-0432)
- John Huber (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6579-6714)
- Katilyn Kusnier
- Megan Sampson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6134-4515)
- David Hartley (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2589-2538)
- Michelle Long Schoettler (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4565-6399)
- Alan Bidgoli (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6078-4028)
- Nandita Khera (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0577-3155)
- Eleanor Cook
- Rachel Phelan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5252-9991)
- Darren Johnson
- Malika Kapadia
- Christopher E. Dandoy (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4001-9203)
- Miza Salim Hammoud
- Adam S. Nelson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3886-363X)
- Jeffery J. Auletta (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1515-2141)
- Priscila Badia Alonso (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7916-9022)
- Miki Nishitani (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9778-1197)
- Taylor Jennelle Fitch (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8396-8919)
- Steffani Maier
- Alana J. Snyder (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-6314-3262)
- John Craddock (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-0797-111X)
- K.A. French
- Mark Juckett
- Georgia Kent
- Dónal O'Mathúna
Institutions
- Children's Hospital of Wisconsin (US)
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (US)
- Nationwide Children's Hospital (US)
- Cleveland Clinic (US)
- Medical College of Wisconsin (US)
- UNSW Sydney (AU)
- Children's of Alabama (US)
- University of Alabama at Birmingham (US)
- Akron Children's Hospital (US)
- Sydney Children's Hospital (AU)
- University of Minnesota Medical Center (US)
- Creative Health Care Management (US)
- Mayo Clinic in Florida (US)
- Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (US)
- Texas Children's Hospital (US)
- Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center (US)
- The Ohio State University (US)
- University of Cincinnati Medical Center (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Pediatric Blood & Cancer
- Published
- 2025-11-24
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/pbc.70001
- Primary Topic
- Central Venous Catheters and Hemodialysis
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00