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Central Venous Catheter Thrombosis Associated With 70% Ethanol Locks in Pediatric Intestinal Failure Patients on Home Parenteral Nutrition
Author(s) -
Wong Theodoric,
Clifford Vanessa,
McCallum Zoë,
Shalley Helen,
Peterkin Megan,
Paxton Georgia,
Bines Julie E.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of parenteral and enteral nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.935
H-Index - 98
eISSN - 1941-2444
pISSN - 0148-6071
DOI - 10.1177/0148607111414713
Subject(s) - parenteral nutrition , medicine , thrombosis , catheter , bloodstream infection , intestinal failure , central venous catheter , intensive care medicine , anesthesia , surgery
Central venous catheter (CVC) ethanol locks may reduce catheter‐related bloodstream infection (CRBSI). Four children with intestinal failure on home parenteral nutrition (HPN) were selected for 70% ethanol locks because of their high rate of CRBSI. The 70% ethanol locks were instilled at a volume equal to the estimated internal volume of the CVC. Two children (aged 4 and 11 years) received 70% ethanol locks as CRBSI prophylaxis; another 2 children (aged 10 and 11 years) received 70% ethanol locks as adjunctive treatment for CRBSI. All 4 children developed either visible thrombosis in the CVC or CVC occlusion. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of CVC thrombosis associated with ethanol lock therapy in the pediatric HPN population. Although none of the CVCs were removed due to occlusion, these events raise serious concerns about the use of high‐concentration ethanol locks.