Experience with a triple-lumen catheter for autologous stem-cell transplantation

We relate our experience with the Cook (Cook Medial Inc., Bloomington, IN, USA), triple-lumen hyperalimentation (HAS) catheter for treatment related to autologous stem-cell transplant. Nineteen HAS catheters were implanted in the right jugular vein, and tunneled to the right anterior chest wall, under imaging guidance. Retrospectively, we reviewed each catheter. Three patient's experienced "ballooning" of the middle (white) lumen of the HAS catheter during routine use. We assessed, time in situ, follow-up imaging, chemotherapy regimen, possibility of systemic or device infection, tissue pathology of the patient's malignancy, and other factors to attempt to determine if there were any associations that could explain the catheter lumen failure. After this pilot study of the HAS-catheter in these 19 patients, we discontinued use of this device at our facility due to mechanical problems of ballooned and obstructed middle lumens. There was no obvious cause, or association, detected to explain the ballooning identified.