title: The Use of Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Patients at a Later Stage.
abstract: To describe the use of peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC), in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at a later stage.
  
  
  
  Twenty-five ALS patients in the later stages of the disease underwent PICC insertion followed by parenteral nutrition (PN). For all of them, gastrostomy was non-feasible. Patients were followed until death and monitored for complications.
  
  
  
  PICC insertion was successful in all patients. Three months after insertion, the mean body weight increased by 4.5% (p = 0.0057). PICC could be maintained until death in all but 1 patient. The mean delay between insertion and death was 4.5 months, but PN was administered for more than 1 year in 2 patients. Complications were noted in 6 patients: sepsis (n = 4), venous thrombosis (n = 1), and upper limb oedema (n = 1), none of them resulting in death.
  
  
  
  PICC insertion for PN at a later stage of ALS, in patients for whom gastrostomy is non-feasible, appears to be a useful option compared to the central venous catheter.
authors.affiliation: Clinique du Motoneurone, CHU Gui de Chauliac, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Raul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Juntas-Morales
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pageot
authors.forename: Sébastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alphandéry
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Camu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition / Q000379:methods*