Home Parenteral Nutrition: Vascular Access and Related Complications

Patients with chronic intestinal failure are dependent on parenteral nutrition (PN) to maintain health and preserve life. Maintaining safe vascular access is vital to prevent life-threatening complications such as catheter-related bloodstream infection or central venous occlusion. Dedicated central venous catheters with rigorous catheter care aseptic protocols are vital in obtaining good long-term outcomes that allow continuation of PN over many years. Good catheter care requires an experienced multidisciplinary team using appropriate vascular devices, trained to identify and aggressively treat catheter-related bloodstream infections, catheter occlusions, and catheter-related thrombosis. Consideration must also be given to evolving strategies to prevent recurrent infections, including prophylactic central venous catheter locks.