Skip to main content

Table 2 Macro- and microscopic changes observed in the vessel wall on autopsy

From: Macro- and microscopic changes in veins with short-term central venous catheters: an observational autopsy study

 

Thrombus

Vessel Wall Changes

Days with central venous catheter

Multiple catheters, same vessel

Patient number

Macroscopic (Y/N)

Microscopic adherent to the vessel wall (Y/N)

Inflammation (0–3)a

Fibrosis (0–3)b

1

No

1

Y

Y

3

0

1

CICCc, PAd-introducer & VA-ECMOe cannula

6

Y

Y

2

3

1

No

7

Y

Y

1

1

2

No

12

Y

Y

1

0

3

No

2

Y

Y

2

2

7

No

8

Y

Y

1

0

7

No

9

Y

Y

1

0

12

No

3

Y

Y

3

2

19

No

5

Y

Y

3

2

22

CICC & CDCf

4

Y

Y

3

3

22

No

10

Y

Y

1

0

25

No

11

Y

Y

3

3

  1. a Degree of inflammation: 0 – nothing visible; 1 – minimal or a few discernible inflammatory cells subjacent to thrombus; 2 – modest number of inflammatory cells reaching deeper into vessel wall; 3 – marked cellular infiltration, with or without oedema, reaching throughout the vessel wall
  2. b Degree of fibrosis: 0 – nothing visible; 1 – minimal, hardly discernible presence of fibroblasts or early collagen formation; 2 – a mild collagenous thickening of the intima; 3 – an obvious collagen increase and intimal thickening
  3. c Centrally inserted central catheter
  4. d Pulmonary artery
  5. e Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
  6. f Silicone central dialysis catheter