Arteriovenous Fistulae as an Alternative to Central Venous Catheters for Delivery of Long-Term Home Parenteral Nutrition

Versleijen, Michelle W.J.; Huisman–de Waal, Getty J.; Kock, Mayke C.; Elferink, Anneke J.M.; van Rossum, Leo G.; Feuth, Ton; Willems, Martine C.; Jansen, Jan B.M.J.; Wanten, Geert J.A.

doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2009.02.005

« Previous Next »Gastroenterology
Volume 136, Issue 5 , Pages 1577-1584, May 2009

Arteriovenous Fistulae as an Alternative to Central Venous Catheters for Delivery of Long-Term Home Parenteral Nutrition

Michelle W.J. Versleijen
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Getty J. Huisman–de Waal
- Department of IQ Healthcare, Nursing Science, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Mayke C. Kock
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Anneke J.M. Elferink
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Leo G. van Rossum
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Ton Feuth
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Human Technology Assessment, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Martine C. Willems
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Jan B.M.J. Jansen
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Geert J.A. Wanten
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Reprint requests Address requests for reprints to: Geert J. A. Wanten, MD, PhD, MSc, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands. fax: (31) 24 3540103

Received 28 August 2008; accepted 5 February 2009. published online 11 February 2009.

Background & Aims

The success of home parenteral nutrition (HPN) programs is compromised by complications of central venous catheters (CVCs), such as occlusions and bloodstream infections. We performed a retrospective analysis of complication rates of arteriovenous fistulae versus CVCs in patients on long-term HPN.

Methods

Data were collected from 127 consecutive patients who received HPN between January 2000 and October 2006, comprising 344 access years of CVCs and 194 access years of arteriovenous fistulae. We evaluated access-related bloodstream infection and occlusion incidence rates (number of complications per access year) using Poisson-normal regression analysis. Complication incidence rate ratios were calculated by dividing complication incidence rates of CVCs by those of arteriovenous fistulae, adjusting for HPN frequency, medication use, infusion fluid composition, and underlying diseases.

Results

Bloodstream infection incidence rates were 0.03/year for arteriovenous fistulae, 1.37/year for long-term CVCs (Port-a-Caths and tunneled catheters), and 3.12/year for short-term CVCs (nontunneled catheters). Occlusion incidence rates were 0.60/year for arteriovenous fistulae, 0.35/year for long-term CVCs, and 0.93/year for short-term CVCs. Adjusted incidence rate ratios of long-term CVCs over arteriovenous fistulae were 47 (95% confidence interval, 19–117) for bloodstream infections and 0.53 (95% confidence interval, 0.31–0.89) for occlusions.

Conclusions

The occlusion incidence rate was higher for arteriovenous fistulae than for certain types of CVCs. The incidence rate of the most serious access-related complication (bloodstream infections) was much lower for arteriovenous fistulae than for all types of CVCs. Thus, arteriovenous fistulae are safe and valuable alternatives to CVCs for patients requiring long-term HPN.

Abbreviations used in this paper: CI, confidence interval, CVC, central venous catheter, HPN, home parenteral nutrition, PAC, Port-a-Cath, TPN, total parenteral nutrition