Boston Scientific Corporation today announced the results of a five-year retrospective study on Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters (PICCs) with Pressure Activated Safety Valve (PASV(R)) Technology, indicating a significant reduction in rates of both occlusion (closure) and infection.
The study, conducted by Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) in Nashville, TN was presented at the Association for Vascular Access (AVA) Annual Conference in Savannah, GA.
PICCs provide reliable access to the blood stream for patients requiring intravenous antibiotics, total parenteral nutrition, chemotherapy, blood products and blood sampling. The Vanderbilt study collected data over a five- year period on more than 12,500 PICC procedures performed by trained personnel in VUMC's specialized PICC nursing program.
"This study provided us with compelling data that has shown significant benefits of the pressure-activated safety valve and a PICC team placement environment," said Doug Burns, R.N., Vanderbilt Medical Center, who presented the results at AVA. "We are encouraged by the significant reduction in chances for occlusion and infections with the PASV Valve technology. The results should be welcome news to patients requiring intravenous treatments, as well as their physicians and infusion therapy clinicians."