100 patient years' experience with the Broviac silastic catheter for central venous nutrition

Use of the Broviac silastic catheter totaling 37,039 patient days' experience has been studied at UCLA Hospital. When combined with standardized protocol for performance of parenteral nutrition and line care, and consistently supervised, the Broviac catheter provided inpatient as well as home parenteral nutrition with minimal complications. Catheter-related sepsis occurred once every 1,058 catheter-use days; minor or major complications developed once every 330 days. The benefits of the Broviac catheter appear to stem from the reinforcement of the external portion of the catheter with an outer protective sheath of Teflon, the luer lock connecting apparatus at the end of the catheter, and the dacron cuff which served to anchor the catheter by stimulating adhesion formulation. The ability to repair the catheter by splicing avoided removal of 7% of all catheters. Particularly dramatic results were noted in infants younger than 2 yr; sepsis and dislodgement occurred only once every 1189 catheter-use days. On the basis of these observations, the Broviac silastic catheter should currently be considered the catheter of choice for central venous alimentation.