2026 Critical Care Congress Skip to main content
2026 Critical Care Congress Main banner
Final Program


Advance Program
Icon Legend
This session is not in your schedule.
This session is in your schedule. Click again to remove it.
Session Icons
Thought Leader Session
Thought Leader Session
Guidelines Session
Guidelines Session
Aging Adult Track
Aging Adult Track
Additional Registration Fee
Additional Registration Fee

Research Snapshot Theater: Quality and Patient Safety, Adult and Pediatric III

Midline Catheters and VTEs: Should They Be Used in Trauma Patients?

Sunday, March 22, 2026
12:15 PM - 1:15 PM Central Time
Location: Connections Central - RST 10

  • Roslyn Alexander, DO

    Disclosure(s): No relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose.

  • LB

    Lillian Bellfi, PharmD, BCCCP

    Clinical Pharmacy Specialist – Trauma/Surgery Critical Care Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery
    Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center

    Disclosure information not submitted.

  • JB

    Jennifer Brewer, MD

    Trauma and Surgical Critical Care Fellow
    Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center

    Disclosure information not submitted.

  • CC

    Cara Cama, MBA, MD

    General Surgery Resident
    St. Luke's University Health Network

    Disclosure information not submitted.

  • PG

    Patrick Greiffenstein, MD, FACS

    Trauma Intensive Care Unit Medical Director at LSU Health Sciences Center
    Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center

    Disclosure information not submitted.

  • AS

    Alison Smith, MD, PhD, FACS

    Trauma Medical Director, McSwain Level 1 Trauma Center
    Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center

    Disclosure information not submitted.

Introduction: Durable vascular access is essential in trauma care. Large-bore peripheral IVs are typically preferred but require replacement every 72–96 hours. Alternatives like PICC lines and CVCs are often used. Recently, midline catheters have gained popularity due to lower infection risk and historically fewer VTEs. However, newer studies suggest increased VTE risk. This study evaluates upper extremity VTE incidence following midline catheter placement in trauma patients at a Level 1 Trauma Center.


Methods: This is a retrospective observational single center study. The trauma registry at University Medical Center in New Orleans was queried for patients who had a midline placed between January 2023 to December of 2024. We included patients who were 18 years or older, who were admitted to the trauma ICU, and had a midline placed. We excluded patients who were admitted to other medical services, patients who were pregnant, prisoners, and/or children. Data was collected and analyzed using Microsoft Excel. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS. Fisher’s Exact Test was used to evaluate for statistical significance.


Results: Over two years, 5,019 trauma patients were admitted; 59 received midline catheters (6 in 2023, 53 in 2024). Average age was 49, 75% were male, 14% had penetrating injuries, mean ISS was 21, LOS 37 days, and mortality 12%.

There were 52 VTEs (1.03%), 10 of which occurred in patients with midlines—5 DVTs, 4 PEs, and 1 with both. Four DVTs were ipsilateral upper extremity. Midline use was associated with a 7.6-fold increased odds of VTE (p = 0.0012).


Conclusions: Midline catheters may be an important modifiable risk factor for VTEs. This retrospective observational single center study suggests an association between midline catheter placement and an increased incidence of ipsilateral upper extremity DVTs in trauma patients. Further research is needed to determine causation within this patient population.