Catheter-related thrombosis in children with intestinal failure and long-term parenteral nutrition: How to treat and to prevent?

Survival of children with chronic intestinal failure has increased as result of administration of home parenteral nutrition. Crucial for the successful management of home parenteral nutrition is the availability of an adequate central venous access. Venous access can be fraught by episodes of catheter-infection, recurrent replacements of catheters and finally catheter-related thrombosis. Management and prevention of catheter-related thrombosis are of vital importance. For patients with compromised venous access, alternative measures are reported, most of them used as a bridge to bowel transplantation. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.