title: Treatment of central venous catheter occlusions with ethanol and hydrochloric acid.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Occluded central venous lines (CVLs) is a major problem in pediatric patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  To relieve obstructed catheters, infusions of ethanol (up to 3 mL of a 70% solution) for presumed lipid occlusions and hydrochloric acid (HCl, 0.1 N, up to 3 mL) for presumed mineral and drug precipitates were given in an attempt to relieve obstructed catheters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patency was restored in 34 of 39 occluded catheters over an 18-month period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clearing occluded CVLs with ethanol and HCl is not only beneficial to the patient but also offers considerable cost savings compared to CVL replacement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, USA.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Werlin
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lausten
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jessen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Toy
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Norton
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dallman
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bender
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sabilan
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rutkowski
mesh_terms: D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002648:Child; D004868:Equipment Failure; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D006851:Hydrochloric Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010289:Parenteral Nutrition, Total / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator; D006851:Hydrochloric Acid