Single plus double lumen intra-atrial [corrected] venous access in bone marrow transplant recipients

BMT recipients require large volumes of fluids, drugs and PN. To reduce manipulation of central catheters and the risk of PN line sepsis, both single and double lumen intra-atrial [corrected] catheters were placed in ten BMT recipients through the internal jugular (double lumen) and cephalic or external jugular (single lumen) vein. Patients were observed for two to seven months. Two partially clotted catheters were cleared with intraluminal urokinase. Skin breakdown at two exit sites responded to local care. The nursing staff and patient tolerated the procedure well. During BMT, fluid administration of 4,900 +/- 150 milliliters a day was possible without interruption of PN. Line or catheter site infections did not occur. Use of three intra-atrial [corrected] lumens eased the care of BMT patients and eliminated PN interruption. Decreased line manipulation may also have led to fewer catheter related infections.