A comparative study of peripherally inserted silicone catheters for parenteral nutrition.

One hundred patients receiving parenteral nutrition with lipids and hypertonic amino acids and glucose were divided into five groups of 20, depending on the type of intravenous catheter used for the infusion. Least satisfactory were the short Butterfly needles (average 3.3 days in place) and the long peripherally inserted polyvinyl central venous catheters (average 6.2 days in place). Subclavian catheters of polyvinyl (average 15.3 days) or silicone elastomer (average 17.5 days) were equally efficacious. A new long silicone elastomer catheter inserted peripherally was most satisfactory (average 29.5 days). Problems common with polyvinyl catheters (phlebitis, thrombosis, and sepsis) rarely occurred with either the long or short silicone elastomer catheter.