title: Complications and survival of multilumen central venous catheters used for total parenteral nutrition.
abstract: In a prospective study of 879 triple-lumen catheters, 219 pulmonary artery catheters, 31 double-lumen and six single-lumen catheters used for the administration of total parenteral nutrition over a 1-year period, the overall complication rate was 12.5 per cent (14.7 complications per 1000 catheter-days) and the catheter-related sepsis rate 4.4 per cent (5.2 per 1000 catheter-days). The probability of development of catheter-related sepsis did not increase with the duration of catheterization. There were no differences in the rate of complications associated with 427 catheters changed by replacement at a new site compared with 159 lines changed over a guidewire. These data support the use of multilumen central venous catheters for the administration of total parenteral nutrition. They suggest that a routine weekly change of line is unnecessary; catheters should be changed only on the development of a complication. When it is required, a catheter should be changed by replacement over a guidewire.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Savage
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Picard
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Hopkins
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Malt
mesh_terms: D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000209:etiology; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D010289:Parenteral Nutrition, Total / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors