Catheter-related complications in long-term home parenteral nutrition patients with chronic intestinal failure.

BACKGROUND

Home Parenteral Nutrition is a therapeutic option to improve quality of life in chronic intestinal failure.

AIMS

To describe frequency of complications both in cancer and noncancer patients.

METHODS

This study was performed on 270 adult patients (52% with cancer, 48% without cancer) followed for a total of 371 years of treatment. Mean duration of therapy was 191±181 for cancer and 830±1168 days/patient for noncancer. The treatment was administered by a competent, dedicated provider. Patients received our prescribed "all-in-one admixtures" at their homes.

RESULTS

Catheter-related complications/1000-days-catheter was 1.40; mechanical complications were comparable in cancer (0.82) and noncancer (0.91) patients while a statistically significant difference was observed between cancer (0.71) and noncancer (0.46) patients for sepsis. Bacterial infections were more frequent in noncancer, mycotic infections primarily affected cancer patients. In our experience 49% of the patients were readmitted, with a low incidence rate of 0.89/1000 days-catheter. The incidence of hepatobiliary complications in our population was 65%. The degree of liver damage was related to short bowel syndrome and to length of treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

This study indicated that cancer patients are more vulnerable to CVC-related infections during Home Parenteral Nutrition and that a safer Home Parenteral Nutrition protocol should be adopted in order to contain CVC-related complications.