Complications Associated with Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters (PICC) in People Undergoing Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) in Home Hospitalization.

INTRODUCTION: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic generated the need to keep immunosuppressed patients away from hospital institutions for as long as possible. This in turn stimulated the implementation of a home hospitalization model for autologous hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT). PURPOSE: To analyze whether there are significant differences in post-transplantation complications related to catheters observed in patients treated in the home-transplant care modality compared to patients treated in the hospital. METHODOLOGY: Observational, analytical, longitudinal, and retrospective study of cases and controls. A convenience sample was chosen, in which the cases comprised 20 patients included in the home HSCT care model. For each patient, it was considered suitable to propose two controls among those who received autologous transplantation in the last five years with a baseline demographic and pathological profile similar to the case for whom they were control. RESULTS: The home patients achieved an average of 22.4 ± 2.6 days of evolution with an average of 16.4 ± 2.08 days post-transplant, compared to the hospital process with an average of 21.21 ± 4.18 days of evolution and 15.51 ± 3.96 days post-transplant (evolution days p = 0.022; post-transplant days p = 0.002). A higher percentage of use of parenteral nutrition (p = 0.036) and transfusions (p = 0.003) was observed during the post-transplant phase in the hospital. The rest of the therapeutic measures did not show significant differences. When analyzing the frequency of adverse effects in the post-transplant phase, a significant increase in neutropenic fever (OR = 8.55) and positive blood cultures (OR = 6.65) was observed in hospital patients. Any other significant differences in other variables related to PICC were found (presence and days of neutropenic fever, catheter infection, complications, pathogens, admission to the ICU, or death). Concerning local complications (pain, DVT, Medical adhesive-related Skin Injury, and erythema), there was more erythema in the hospital (p = 0.056). CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained indicate that regarding the appearance of complications associated with PICCs in home hospitalization HSCT patients, there are no significant differences compared to hospitalization, so that home care can be a safe context for people with these lines.

Post-Transplant Complications in Patients Undergoing Autologous Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation (HCT)-A Comparative Analysis of Home Care versus Hospitalized Patients.

Background and Objectives: The increase in indications for hematopoietic cell transplants (HCTs) has led to the development of new care options after said transplant, such as home care after transplantation, which improves the patients' quality of life. The main purpose of this research is to analyze the differences in the appearance of post-transplant complications between patients having underwent autologous HCT with at-home post-transplant modalities and those under in-hospital post-transplant care. Materials and Methods: An observational, analytical, longitudinal, and retrospective study of cases and controls. All transplanted people in the domiciliary model since 2020 are included as cases (20 subjects). For each case, two controls (40 subjects) are proposed among patients who received an autologous transplant in a hospital in the last five years with a similar demographic and pathological base profile in each case. Results: No significant differences were found between cases and controls, except for the Karnofsky value, which was higher in people receiving home treatment (91.7% vs. 87.74%; p = 0.05). The average number of days of the process post-transplantation was more significant at home (processing days 22.4 ± 2.6; post-transplantation days of 16.4 ± 2.08 versus 21.21 ± 4.18, with a mean of 15.51 ± 3.96 days post-transplant (days of the process p = 0.022; days post-transplant p = 0.002)). There is a more significant presence of neutropenic fever, mucositis, and positive blood cultures in the post-transplant patients who remain in the hospital. In contrast, the patients receiving home care post-transplantation undergo significantly more weight loss. Regarding the odds ratio of the appearance of adverse events, in the hospital setting, it is up to 8.5 times more likely to encounter neutropenic fever, 4.63 times more likely for mucositis, and 6.65 times more likely for the presence of pathogens in blood cultures. Conclusions: The home care modality in the post-transplant phase does not show an inferiority in conditions in the management and safety of the patient concerning the appearance of adverse events. However, more significant weight loss is detected in patients at home, and an increased risk of episodes of neutropenic fever, mucositis, and positive blood cultures for patients in hospital settings.