Major complications of Hickman catheter placement (thrombosis and infection) were determined in 168 patients with solid tumor (lung, 79; head and neck, 56; esophagus, 24; and miscellaneous, 9).... The mechanism(s) of thrombosis in Hickman catheter patients is not completely defined. A likely possibility is that the catheter itself or the drugs infused through the catheter (chemotherapy agents, antibiotics, parenteral hyperalimentation solutions) cause endothelial damage, platelet aggregation, and initiation of the coagulation cascade.... In summary, thrombosis is the major complication associated with Hickman catheter use in patients with solid tumor. Clotting was the major cause of morbidity and the only cause of mortality in this study. Better methods to prevent thrombosis are needed. Whether this will take the form of even less thrombogenic catheter materials or of better local and/or systemic treatments to prevent thrombosis is unknown at this time.

Abstracted by permission. Anderson AJ, Krasnow SH, Boyer MW, et al. Thrombosis: the major Hickman Catheter complication in patients with solid tumor. Chest l989;95(1):71-75.