Evaluating catheter complications and outcomes in patients receiving home parenteral nutrition.

ABSTRACT

RATIONALE, AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: We describe catheter complications and outcomes in patients who received home parenteral nutrition (HPN) therapy. METHODS: Retrospective chart data were obtained from Boston Home Infusion agency that provided HPN therapy to 212 patients [International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision (ICD-9) codes gastrointestinal (GI)-related disorders and oncology] between 1 January 2005 and 30 September 2011. RESULTS: Of the 163 patients who represented 19104 home-catheter days, 19 (11.7%) patients experienced 25 catheter complications (CCs; 12 occlusions, 11 central line-associated bloodstream infections, one thrombosis and one line dislodgment). The overall CC rate was 1.30 per 1000 peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC)-line days. The mean number of PICC-line days (278.7 ± 335.0 vs. 95.9 ± 154.0) and patients with at least one hospital admission were significantly higher for patients with one or more CCs compared with patients with no CCs (P<0.03). CONCLUSION: Patients who experienced CCs had more PICC-line days, more hospital admissions and had an ICD-9 code for GI-related disorders compared with patients with oncology-related diagnoses.