Complications of subclavian vein catheters in patients with high enterocutaneous fistulas

✍ Scribed by E. Harju; T. Pessi

• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 1985
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 216 KB
• Volume: 11
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1432-1238
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00272407

✦ Synopsis

Complications of subclavian catheters in 17 consecutive patients with high enterocutaneous fistulas were studied. Fifteen patients had drainage surgery and total parenteral nutrition was given to all patients via a subclavian catheter for 27 +/- 20 days and in total 75 catheters were used for 1044 days. One patient needed on average 5.0 +/- 2.2 catheters and one catheter was in place 12.3 +/- 9.7 days. Bacterial cultures were positive in two and candida cultures in one catheter. Three patients died due to sepsis, but only one had a minor complication transient skin infection around the catheter. The frequency of complications decreased when the number of catheters in each patient increased. Minor complications were common.