Last month, the findings from a peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC) securement study at the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre in England were published in the Journal of Vascular Access by authors Carol McCormick, Mickey Hawes and Gregory Gilbert.

The article expanded on the data set first shared in a poster presented at the 2022 World Congress of Vascular Access (WoCoVA) conference in Athens, Greece. Prior to this study, there had been little conclusive evidence on which securement methods actually prevent partial or complete dislodgement of PICCs.

Titled, “A retrospective study of subcutaneous anchor securement systems in oncology patients”, this is the largest completed SecurAcath study to date. It included over 9,000 oncology patients and over ONE MILLION catheter days!

1. ASDs put patients at 36 times greater risk of PICC dislodgement compared to SecurAcath
2. Incidence of unplanned catheter replacements was 12% for ASDs and only 4% for SecurAcath
3. Prior to SecurAcath implementation, only 77% of patients and their PICCs made it to end of need without required replacement and by 2020, 99% of patients with a SecurAcath finished their course of need with one catheter

Kaplan-Meier plot of the probability of reaching the EON with a single PICC with an ASD or SASS 2009 – 2020

Improved catheter securement reduces the risk of delaying vital chemotherapy, testing, and decreases the chances of complications such as catheter-related bloodstream infections, thrombus, dislodgement and catheter occlusion. Both McCormick and Hawes shared their hope that the evidence from the new study will accelerate the adoption of SecurAcath, currently the only subcutaneous anchor securement system, reducing unplanned catheter removals, complications, and improving patient outcomes.

They also expect that the increased use of the devices will bring significant cost savings, despite higher upfront costs, because only one device is required until the catheter is removed unlike all other engineered securement devices, including ASDs. Additionally, a secure catheter will lower hospital readmissions and reduce the need for multiple lines to complete therapy.

Hawes will present the new data at the October 14-17 Association for Vascular Access 2023 Annual Scientific Meeting, which will be held in Portland, Oregon. Her presentation, “Keep it Simple Specialist: One Securement Device, One PICC, Until the End of Need,” will take place on Sunday, October 15 at 1 p.m. PDT.

Eloquest Healthcare is committed to providing solutions that can help improve catheter securement and decrease complications while reducing unnecessary costs. For more information about SASS, please call 1‐877‐433‐7626 or complete this form.