[Catheter-related complications in long-term or ambulatory parenteral feeding]

Catheter-related complications represent the major risk in parenteral nutrition. The evaluation of 115 patients with a total of 16 836 days of mainly home parenteral nutrition showed 19 infected and 21 noninfected complications. Among these were two thromboses of the superior vena cava which had to be cleared surgically. Related to one year of parenteral nutrition the rate of infected and non-infected complications was 0.87 cases. There was no correlation between the duration of parenteral nutrition and the frequency of catheter-related septicaemia. Apart from the material used for catheters and a standardised technique of implantation and care the meticulous selection of patients is decisive for a low rate of complications.