CVAD-Related Skin Injuries in Children With Cancer: A Scoping Review

Central venous access devices (CVADs) are critical for delivering cancer treatment in children, but they can lead to skin injuries that cause pain, distress, and device failure. This scoping review aimed to synthesize existing evidence on the prevalence, types, and reporting of CVAD-related skin injuries in pediatric oncology patients.

Study Overview
The review followed Whittemore and Knafl’s integrative methodology, screening 613 records and including 6 studies focusing on children aged 0-18 years with solid or hematologic malignancies. The studies examined skin integrity at CVAD sites and reported skin injuries such as exit site infections and dermatitis.

Key Findings

• Exit site infection rates ranged from 0 to 2.35 per 1,000 catheter days, with some studies reporting up to 16% of patients affected.
• Dermatitis rates were reported up to 11%.
• Most studies focused primarily on infection; other skin injuries were under-reported.
• There was limited awareness and inconsistent documentation of skin injuries, contributing to avoidable complications and device failures.

Conclusion
This review highlights a critical gap in research and clinical practice regarding CVAD-associated skin injuries in pediatric cancer care. The authors call for improved monitoring, reporting, and awareness to reduce preventable harm and enhance patient outcomes.

Read More:https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13674935251351070 

Authors: Colleen Pitt, Amanda J. Ullman, Natalie K. Bradford