CClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT01779999Updated Feb 11, 2013

Early Detection of PICC-related Deep Vein Thrombosis by US Surveillance: an Effective Approach for Secondary Prevention?

An observational study in Central Venous Catheter Thrombosis, sponsored by University of Turin, Italy. Completed. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2013-02-11.

Sponsored by University of Turin, Italy · Observational

Study type
Observational
Model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
150
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Background: PICC-related thrombosis have shown a slightly different pattern of frequency and risk factors, compared with traditional CVC; because of the increasing diffusion of PICCs, they are becoming a somehow independent pathology, still under investigation; no pharmacological prevention has proved to be effective. Aim of this study is to estimate the cumulative incidence of thrombosis in a cohort of patients carrying a PICC-line CVC, monitored to allow an early detection and prevention of complications related to the presence of asymptomatic deep venous thrombosis, and to explore the role of several potential risk factors.

Methods: in a prospective observational cohort we will enroll 150 consecutive patients having a PICC inserted by our team; clinical characteristics, comorbidities and main features of catheter positioning procedure will be registered; patients will be followed with clinical and echographic scheduled controls, weekly for the first month, then monthly; patients with PRDVT will be treated with LMWH and recontrolled weekly until removal of catheter

Read the detailed description

All PICCs are positioned by trained physicians and nurses, after ultrasonographic screening of the whole upper limbs venous district, axillary, subclavian and jugular veins for detecting possible pre-existing thrombosis; positioning is performed with real-time ultrasonography guide with a portable device. Patients are recontrolled one week after positioning; patients who report pain, swelling, fever, skin colour changes, exit site tenderness, or any symptom suspected for thrombosis or infection, are immediately seen. A duplex ultrasound complete examination of the upper limb and neck vessels is performed, and at the same time the whole arm and the exit site is inspected to exclude infections; diagnostic criteria for DVT include incompressibility of the vein and direct visualisation of PICC-surrounding thrombus; in uncertain cases, a doppler examination is performed.If the examination is negative for thrombosis, further controls are performed at 2,3,4 weeks after positioning, then once a month.If a DVT is detected, we register the position and extension of the thrombus, and its main characteristics (clot, mural or occlusive thrombosis); the catheter is left in place and a therapy is prescribed with LMWH at full doses, according with ACCP guidelines 2008 (confirmed in 2012 edition). Then, the patient is recontrolled weekly until removal of the catheter.

02

Conditions studied

  • Central Venous Catheter Thrombosis

Keywords

  • central venous catheters
  • thrombosis
  • secondary prevention
03

In context

Thrombosis

1,506 studies on the registry are indexed under Thrombosis; 238 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 150 is below the median of 213 across 586 observational studies indexed under Thrombosis.

Browse Thrombosis studies →

Lead sponsor

University of Turin, Italy is the lead sponsor of 206 studies on the registry; 34 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No
Sampling method
Non-probability sample

Study population

All patients undergoing a PICC-line positioning during a five-months period

Inclusion criteria

  • all patients undergoing a PICC-line positioning during a five-months period

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • age\<18,complete paresis of the arm, history of previous DVT in the same arm, expected very short PICC indwelling time (less than 1 week).
05

Study design

Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
150 participants (actual)
Patient registry
No

Groups and cohorts

  • PICC-carrying patients

    All patients carrying a peripherally inserted central catheter in our service

    Other: PICC-carrying patients

Interventions

  • OtherPICC-carrying patients

    Echographic monitoring of patients carrying a peripherally inserted central catheter

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. early detection of PRDVT

    weekly ultrasonographic examination of the whole upper limbs venous district, axillary, subclavian and jugular veins for detecting incompressibility of the vein or visualization of thrombus; Doppler examination for confirmation of DVT

    Time frame: 1 yr

Secondary outcomes

  1. risk factors individuation

    Time frame: 1 yr

Other outcomes

  1. DVT resolution with early therapy

    Time frame: 1yr

07

Study locations

No study locations are listed for this record.

08

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Feb 11, 2013, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT01779999
Lead sponsor
University of Turin, Italy
Responsible party
Cristina Garrino (PhD, University of Turin, Italy) — Principal investigator
First posted
Jan 30, 2013
Start date
Jun 2010
Primary completion
Oct 2010
Completion
Jun 2012
Last update
Feb 11, 2013

Study contacts

cristina garrino, PhD
principal investigator · University of Turin, Italy

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is completed, as verified in Jan 2013. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

Follow this study

Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.

Sign in to follow

Discussion

Questions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.

Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.

Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.

Start the discussion