Repair of long-term venous catheters.

The insertion of long-term Silastic catheters into the vena cava for home parenteral nutrition, antibiotic administration, and chemotherapy is increasing; however, one of the often described complications of these catheters is breakage of the external segment of the catheter. A new device as well as a new method for repair of the catheter has been described. Clinical testing of the catheters repaired with this device by our nutritional support service has demonstrated no leakage or occlusion at the catheter repair site. We believe the catheter repair kit described is simpler to use than the repair kit currently on the market.