Symptomatic thrombosis incidence was 16.7% in pediatric PICC patients, with female sex, left-sided insertion, nonbasilic vein access, and previous PICC exposure associated with thrombosis in univariate analyses.
The incidence of symptomatic thrombosis in pediatric patients with PICCs was 16.7%.
Female sex was significantly associated with symptomatic PICC-related thrombosis.
Left-sided PICC insertion was associated with a higher rate of symptomatic thrombosis compared to right-sided insertion.
Nonbasilic vein access was associated with symptomatic thrombosis.
Previous PICC exposure was associated with symptomatic thrombosis.
A nonsignificant U-shaped trend was observed between PICC indwelling time and symptomatic thrombosis.
This research examined how often children with a type of intravenous line called a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) develop blood clots (thrombosis) in the vein where the catheter sits. Looking at 168 children aged 0-14 years treated at a major children's hospital in Saudi Arabia over about four and a half years, the researchers found that roughly 1 in 6 children (16.7%) developed a blood clot that caused symptoms and was confirmed by ultrasound imaging. The study identified several factors linked to a higher chance of developing a clot. Children who were female, had the PICC inserted on the left side of the body, had the catheter placed in a vein other than the basilic vein, or had previously had a PICC were all more likely to develop thrombosis. Interestingly, the risk appeared to be elevated both when the catheter was in place for a very short time (less than 7 days) and for a very long time (more than 180 days), forming a U-shaped pattern, though this particular finding was not statistically significant. This research suggests that PICC-related blood clots are a meaningful complication in children and that certain patient characteristics and procedural choices may influence that risk. These findings could help guide medical teams in making decisions about which vein to use for catheter placement and in identifying which patients may need closer monitoring. The authors note that these results come from a single-center retrospective study and call for future prospective studies to confirm these associations and improve vascular access practices in children.
Alabdulkarim A, Almojali A, Alhowaish T, Alsuhaibani D, Alshafi N, Alzahrani A, et al.. (2026). Thrombosis Rate and Risk Factors in Pediatric Patients with Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters.. Saudi medical journal. https://doi.org/10.15537/1658-3175.8854