Complications associated with peripherally inserted central catheters: a retrospective cohort study

Objective To describe the complications associated with peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) in a secondary-level hospital. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Secondary-level hospital in Querétaro, Mexico. Participants All adult patients who received a PICC between January and December 2024. A total of 59 catheters met the inclusion criteria and were eligible for analysis. Main outcome measures A composite endpoint of complications associated with PICCs, including bloodstream infections, catheter occlusion, accidental removal, migration, rupture and thrombosis. Data on the insertion site and dwell time were also collected. Results 59 patients were included: 59% male (n=35) and 41% female (n=24). The basilic vein (42.4%) and cephalic vein (32.2%) were the most common insertion sites, followed by the median cubital (17%), brachial (6.8%) and axillary veins (1.7%). More than 70% of catheters had no complications. The cephalic vein showed the highest proportion of adverse events (42.1%), followed by the brachial (25%) and basilic (24%). Accidental removal was the most frequent event, observed in the cephalic (10.5%) and basilic (12%) veins. Conclusions PICC dwell time and complication rates vary by insertion site, reflecting differences in procedural complexity and patient characteristics. Individualised insertion strategies and close monitoring are essential to reduce risks, improve patient safety and ensure treatment continuity.