Repair of central venous access devices in intestinal failure patients is safe and cost-effective: A retrospective single centre cohort study

PURPOSE: To determine whether cryopreserved solutions of the thrombolytic agent alteplase could be used as a safe, effective, and economically reasonable alternative to urokinase in patients presenting with occluded central venous access devices (CVADs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Alteplase has been reported as an efficacious alternative to urokinase for treatment of occluded CVADs. However, the practicality of using alteplase as the thrombolytic of choice for this indication remained conjectural. To make this approach economically feasible, alteplase was diluted to 1 mg/mL and 2.5-mL aliquots were stored at −20°C until use. A need to confirm that the cryopreserving and thawing of the reconstituted solution did not compromise the safety and efficacy reported from prior trials was recognized. A quality assessment initiative was undertaken to concurrently monitor the safety and efficacy of this approach. Patients presenting with occluded CVADs received a sufficient volume of the thawed alteplase solution to fill the occluded catheter(s). Data, including efficacy, adverse reactions, dwell time, and catheter type, were collected over a 5-month period. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-one patients accounting for 168 attempted clearances were assessable for safety and efficacy. One hundred thirty-six (81%) of the 168 catheter clearance attempts resulted in successful catheter clearance (95% confidence interval, 74% to 86%). No adverse events were reported. CONCLUSION: Cryopreserved 1-mg/mL aliquots of alteplase are safe and effective in the clearance of occluded CVADs when stored at −20°C for 30 days. The ability to cryopreserve alteplase aliquots makes it an economically reasonable alternative to urokinase in the setting of CVAD occlusion.

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Upper Extremity Deep Venous Thrombosis in Cancer Patients with Venous Access Devices - Prophylaxis with a Low Molecular Weight Heparin (Fragmin)

Thrombosis and Haemostasis ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1650254 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 75 (02) ◽

pp. 251-253 ◽

Cited By ~ 264

Author(s):

Manuel Monreal ◽

Antoni Alastrue ◽

Miquel Rull ◽

Xavier Mira ◽

Jordi Muxart ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cancer Patients ◽

Upper Extremity ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Central Venous Access ◽

Venous Access ◽

Bleeding Complications ◽

Fisher Exact Test ◽

Central Venous ◽

True Incidence ◽

Venous Access Devices

SummaryCentral venous access devices are often essential for the administration of chemotherapy to patients with malignancy, but its use has been associated with a number of complications, mainly thrombosis. The true incidence of upper extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in this setting is difficult to estimate since there are very few studies in which DVT diagnosis was based on objective tests, but its sequelae include septic thrombophlebitis, loss of central venous access and pulmonary embolism.We performed an open, prospective study in which all cancer patients who underwent placement of a long-term Port-a-Cath (Pharmacia Deltec Inc) subclavian venous catheter were randomized to receive or not 2500 IU sc of Fragmin once daily for 90 days. Venography was routinely performed 90 days after catheter insertion, or sooner if DVT symptoms had appeared. Our aims were: 1) to investigate the effectiveness of low doses of Fragmin in preventing catheter-related DVT; and 2) to try to confirm if patients with high platelet counts are at a higher risk to develop subclavian DVT, as previously suggested.On the recommendation of the Ethics Committee, patient recruitment was terminated earlier than planned: DVT developed in 1/16 patients (6%) taking Fragmin and 8/13 patients (62%) without prophylaxis (Relative Risk 6.75; 95% Cl: 1.05-43.58; p = 0.002, Fisher exact test). No bleeding complications had developed. As for prediction of DVT, there was a tendency towards a higher platelet count in those patients who subsequently developed DVT, but differences failed to reach any statistical significance (286 ±145 vs 207 ±81 X 109/1; p = 0.067). According to our experience, Fragmin at the dosage used proved to be both effective and safe in these patients.

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Prevention of Infection in Adults Receiving Intravenous Antibiotic Treatment via Indwelling Central Venous Access Devices

Reviews on Recent Clinical Trials ◽

10.2174/1574887113666180817125036 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 47-49

Author(s):

Basant K. Puri ◽

Anne Derham ◽

Jean A. Monro

Keyword(s):

Bloodstream Infection ◽

Antibiotic Treatment ◽

Central Venous Access ◽

Case Series ◽

Bloodstream Infections ◽

Venous Access ◽

Host Cells ◽

Central Venous ◽

Intravenous Antibiotic ◽

Venous Access Devices

Background: The use of indwelling Central Venous Access Devices (CVADs) is associated with the development of bloodstream infections. When CVADs are used to administer systemic antibiotics, particularly second- or higher-generation cephalosporins, there is a particular risk of developing Clostridium difficile infection. The overall bloodstream infection rate is estimated to be around 1.74 per 1000 Central Venous Catheter (CVC)-days. Objective: We hypothesised that daily oral administration of the anion-binding resin colestyramine (cholestyramine) would help prevent infections in those receiving intravenous antibiotic treatment via CVADs. Method: A small case series is described of adult patients who received regular intravenous antibiotic treatment (ceftriaxone, daptomycin or vancomycin) for up to 40 weeks via indwelling CVADs; this represented a total of 357 CVC-days. In addition to following well-established strategies to prevent C. difficile infection, during the course of the intravenous antibiotic treatment the patients also received daily oral supplementation with 4 g colestyramine. Results: There were no untoward infectious events. In particular, none of the patients developed any symptoms or signs of C. difficile infection, whereas approximately one case of a bloodstream infection would have been expected. Conclusion: It is suggested that oral colestyramine supplementation may help prevent such infection through its ability to bind C. difficile toxin A (TcdA) and C. difficile toxin B (TcdB); these toxins are able to gain entry into host cells through receptor-mediated endocytosis, while anti-toxin antibody responses to TcdA and TcdB have been shown to induce protection against C. difficile infection sequelae.

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