Reduced risk of pulmonary emboli in children treated with long-term parenteral nutrition

Judith Pichler1, Lorenzo Biassoni2, Marina Easty2

  • 1Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Great Ormond Street, London WC1N 3JH, United Kingdom; Department of Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, Vienna 1090, Austria.

Insights

Newer intravenous lipid emulsions (ILEs) significantly reduced pulmonary embolism (PE) risk in children receiving parenteral nutrition (PN). Despite this reduction, PE remains a complication requiring ongoing surveillance and management.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Nutritional Support

Background:

  • Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a significant complication in pediatric patients receiving parenteral nutrition (PN).
  • The introduction of new intravenous lipid emulsions (ILEs) in 2003 offered a potential strategy to mitigate PE risk.
  • The study aimed to evaluate the impact of these new ILEs on PE incidence.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the incidence of pulmonary embolism (PE) in children before and after the introduction of new intravenous lipid emulsions (ILEs).
  • To identify risk factors associated with PE in children undergoing parenteral nutrition (PN).

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of 327 ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) scintigraphies in 68 children (0.3-15 years) treated with PN from 1993 to 2010.
  • Comparison of PE rates per 1000 central venous catheter (CVC) days before and after 2003.
  • Multivariate regression analysis to identify risk factors for PE.

Main Results:

  • A significant reduction in PE incidence was observed after the introduction of new ILEs (32% vs. 11%, p=0.007).
  • PE rate decreased from 0.2/1000 CVC days pre-2003 to 0.05/1000 CVC days post-2003 (p=0.04).
  • Higher ILE content, frequent ILE administration (>3 nights/week), and older ILEs were associated with increased PE risk, while new ILEs showed a lower risk (p=0.003).

Conclusions:

  • Newer ILE formulations are associated with a substantial decrease in PE incidence in pediatric patients on PN.
  • Despite the reduction, PE remains a complication necessitating continued vigilance.
  • Recommendations include 12-18 monthly lung perfusion scans and anticoagulation therapy upon PE diagnosis.
Abstract

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