Complications of central venous catheters in patients on home parenteral nutrition: an analysis of 68 patients over 16 years.

PURPOSE

To determine the incidence of central venous catheter (CVC) complications and to analyze the potential risk factors for complications necessitating CVC removal in patients on home parenteral nutrition (HPN).

METHODS

We studied 68 patients on HPN (44 men and 24 women), examining the incidence of CVC complications and CVC-related infections. The risk factors for CVC-related infection were investigated using multivariate logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

The incidences of CVC complications were 0.29 episodes per CVC-year in 45 patients with an external tunneled CVC, and 0.66 episodes per CVC-year in 23 patients with an implanted port device. The incidences of CVC-related infections were 0.17 episodes per CVC-year for external tunneled CVCs and 0.17 episodes per CVC-year for implanted port devices. There were no significant differences in the incidences of CVC complications (P = 0.095), and CVC-related infections (P = 0.406). The incidences of CVC-related infections were 0.04 episodes per CVC-year in 54 patients with malignancies, and 0.68 episodes in 14 patients with benign diseases (P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed the types of diseases that influenced the incidence of CVC-related infections (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of CVC complications did not differ between the two groups. The type of disease was the most important predictive factor of CVC-related infections.