Efficacy and safety of femoral vascular access for peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) collection

Central venous catheters are frequently used in leukapheresis to provide high flow rates. The most common locations are the subclavian or jugular vein, but insertion-related complications and inadequate flow are frequent problems. Experience using femoral venous access is limited, because this has been discouraged due to the high incidence of infectious or thromboembolic complications. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of 108 short-term femoral venous dialysis catheters used for the collection of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs). All catheters were placed by a member of the dialysis unit, and they remained in situ for the days needed to reach the target number of CD34+ cells. No prophylactic antibiotic or antithrombotic therapy was used. A total of 232 apheresis sessions was performed. The longest duration a catheter remained in situ was 5 days. Most of the patients finished the collection in one or two apheresis sessions. There were no thrombotic or infectious complications, and insertion-related complications or mechanical problems were minimal. Apheresis results were similar to those reported using subclavian or jugular venous access. The short-term use of femoral venous dialysis catheters appears safe and effective for PBSC collection, simplifying the procedure, improving patient comfort, and reducing cost.