title: Incidence of vein thrombosis in peripheral intravenous nutrition: effect of fat emulsions.
abstract: The relative risk of thrombophlebitis induced by either Long-chain Triglycerides (LCTs) or Medium-chain Triglycerides (MCTs) during peripheral i.v. nutrition (PIN) was evaluated. A total of 76 patients were randomly assigned into group A (n=40) and group B (n=36). The nutritional requirements in both groups were covered by a standardized regime of osmolality 1130 mOsm and pH 5.2, which provided 14 kg/day(-1) nitrogen, 600 kcal/day(-1) of carbohydrates and 1000 kcal/day(-1) of lipids. Group A received the lipids as pure LCTs while group B received a mixture of LCTs/MCTs at a ratio 1:1. The infused nutritional volume was 2000 ml and was delivered via a suitable vein in a proximal forearm, using a fine bore polyurethane 22G catheter. The two standardized regimes were evaluated over a 10 day period regarding the incidence of thrombophlebitis. The cumulative risk of thrombophlebitis was documented to be significantly lower in group A compared to group B (17.5% versus 44.4%, P < 0.05). LCTs appear to prolong peripheral vein feeding by lessening the reaction of venous endothelium to the irritating nutritional infusate.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Surgery, Athens University Medical School Aretaeion Hospital, 22 Haniotou Str., Athens, 154 52, Greece.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Smirniotis
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Kotsis
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Antoniou
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kostopanagiotou
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Labrou
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kourias
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Papadimitriou
mesh_terms: D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005217:Fat Emulsions, Intravenous / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000209:etiology*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D005217:Fat Emulsions, Intravenous; D014280:Triglycerides