Long-term parenteral nutrition: problems with venous access.
Long-term parenteral nutrition requires central venous access, often difficult in patients who have had several central venous catheterizations. Therapy may be complicated by thrombosis and sepsis which may further compromise central access. We report five cases illustrating such difficulties and suggest that these patients be referred early to specialist centres where experienced catheter insertion and management results in a greatly reduced incidence of complications.
McIntyre
A S
AS
Department of Gastroenterology, St Mark's Hospital, London.
Gertner
D J
DJ
Wood
S
S
Phillips
R K
RK
Lennard-Jones
J E
JE
D000328:Adult; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000379:methods*; D006701:Home Nursing; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition / Q000379:methods*; D011379:Prognosis