Comparing Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters to Long Peripheral Catheters in Pediatrics

Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters (PICCs) are frequently used in hospitalized children who require prolonged vascular access; however, concerns regarding their inappropriate use and contribution to serious complications such as central line associated blood stream infection (CLABSI) and venous thromboembolism (VTE) have triggered exploration of safer alternatives. Long Peripheral Catheters (LPCs) have been recently adopted by some institutions due to fewer complications as compared to PICCs. The investigators hypothesize that LPCs could be safer alternatives to PICCs for medium-term vascular access (5-14 days) in the appropriate cohort of hospitalized pediatric patients. The primary objective of the proposed clinical effectiveness pilot trial is to test the feasibility of a full-scale effectiveness trial comparing PICCs to LPCs in hospitalized pediatric patients. The investigators aim to identify a population in which LPCs are safe and effective alternatives to PICCs for medium-term, non-central vascular access; data that will inform the design of a full-scale effectiveness study. The investigators plan to engage patients and families as advisors in vascular access device selection by understanding their experience with vascular access device placement and maintenance. Over time, use of LPCs should result in decreased inappropriate PICC utilization with a concomitant decrease in serious complications such as CLABSI and VTE.