Artificial parenteral nutrition at home via totally implantable catheter systems.

Home parenteral nutrition ensures the nutritional requirements in patients where oral or enteral food intake is not sufficient. This report describes the use of totally implantable catheter-port-systems that are punctured only during infusion periods. Using these systems, the quality of life at affected patients can be substantially improved. Moreover, the rate of complications such as septicemia and mechanical problems appears to be significantly reduced in comparison to conventional catheters employing extracorporal segments.