The incidence and management of catheter occlusion in patients on home parenteral nutrition.
For patients on Home parenteral nutrition (HPN), catheter-related problems are the major source of morbidity and occlusion of the central venous catheter is one of these. We have managed 17 episodes of catheter occlusion in 10 patients on HPN. The median time from insertion to occlusive episode was 23 months. 10 catheters (59%) were saved by the used of thrombolytics (one by thrombolytics and ethanol) and 7 were replaced. The recent incidence of catheter occlusion in this cohort was one episode per 150 patient-months of HPN (0.08 episodes per year). Patients with Crohns disease appear to be at greater risk of developing catheter occlusion (p = <0.05).
Williams
N M
NM
Nutrition Unit, University of Manchester, Hope Hospital, Eccles Old Road, Salford, M6 8HD, UK.
Wales
S
S
Scott
N A
NA
Irving
M H
MH