• Raymond J Chan, Sarah Northfield, Emily Larsen, Gabor Mihala, Amanda Ullman, Peter Hancock, Nicole Marsh, Nicole Gavin, David Wyld, Anthony Allworth, Emily Russell, Md Abu Choudhury, Julie Flynn, and Claire M Rickard.
• Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Butterfield Street, Herston, Brisbane, Queensland, 4029, Australia. Raymond.Chan@qut.edu.au.
• Trials. 2017 Oct 4; 18 (1): 458.

BackgroundPeripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) are commonly used for delivering intravenous therapy. PICC failure is unacceptably high (up to 40%) due to mechanical, infectious and thrombotic complications. Poor securement potentiates all complication types. This randomised controlled trial (RCT) aimed to examine the feasibility of a large RCT of four dressing and securement methods to prevent PICC failure.MethodsThis single-centre pilot RCT included 124 admitted medical/surgical/cancer patients aged ≥ 16 years with a PICC. Interventions were: (i) standard polyurethane dressing and sutureless securement device (SPU + SSD, control); (ii) polyurethane with absorbent lattice pad dressing (PAL + Tape); (iii) combination securement-dressing (CSD); and (iv) tissue adhesive (TA + SPU). All groups except TA + SPU had a chlorhexidine-gluconate (CHG) impregnated disc. Feasibility outcomes were recruitment and safety/acceptability of the interventions. The primary outcome was PICC failure, a composite of PICC removal for local infection, catheter-associated bloodstream infection, dislodgement, occlusion, and/or catheter fracture. Secondary outcomes included individual complications, dressing failure and dwell time, PICC dwell time, skin complications/phlebitis indicators, product costs, and patient and staff satisfaction. Qualitative feedback was also collected.ResultsPICC failure incidence was: PAL + CHG + Tape (1/5; 20%; 17.4/1000 days), SPU + SSD + CHG (control) (4/39; 10%; 9.0/1000 days), TA + SPU (3/35; 9%; 9.6/1000 days), and CSD + CHG (3/42; 7%; 9.4/1000 days). Recruitment to PAL + CHG + Tape was ceased after five participants due to concerns of PICC dislodgement when removing the dressing. CSD + CHG, TA + SPU (TA applied only at PICC insertion time), and control treatments were acceptable to patients and health professionals.ConclusionA large RCT of CSD + CHG and TA + SPU (but not PAL + CHG + Tape) versus standard care is feasible.Trial RegistrationAustralian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12616000027415 . Registered on 15 January 2016.

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