Final answer:
In pediatric patients with tunneled catheters, it is important to regularly assess and verify catheter tip location as the child grows to ensure proper medication delivery and to reduce the risk of infections and other complications.
Step-by-step explanation:
In pediatric patients with tunneled catheters, we assess and verify the internal catheter tip location as the child grows because their anatomy changes. As children grow, the position of the catheter may shift, which can result in improper medication delivery, increased risk of catheter-related bloodstream infections, and possibly mechanical complications. It's important that the catheter's tip remains in the correct position relative to the heart to ensure effectiveness in transmitting pressures or delivering medication and to prevent complications. Regular surveillance and adjustment of the catheter are necessary to accommodate growth changes and to prevent potential problems. Venous catheters are indeed life-saving interventions but come with risks. The World Health Organization estimates substantial incidences of catheter-related bloodstream infections annually, underlining the importance of proper catheter management to reduce infection risks and related deaths.