Central venous catheter complications in 447 patients on home parenteral nutrition: an analysis of over 100.000 catheter days.

Rationale: The purpose of this study is to report the frequency of central venous catheter (CVC) complications and to analyze the potential risk factors for complications requiring CVC removal in home parenteral nutrition (HPN) patients.

Methods: A questionnaire developed by the ESPEN HAN WORKING GROUP was distributed to 12 European centers to investigate the complications occurring during the period between January 1995 and December 2000 when HPN patients used their first CVC. The questionnaire collected informations related to the Home Parenteral Nutrition technique and the underlying disease.

Brain manganese deposition and blood levels in patients undergoing home parenteral nutrition.

Background: Extrapyramidal syndrome and alterations in brain magnetic resonance images are described in patients undergoing long-term home parenteral nutrition (HPN) and in cholestatic patients. These abnormalities have been correlated to basal ganglia manganese (Mn) accumulation.

Methods: A longitudinal 1-year study was conducted on 15 patients undergoing HPN (median duration, 3.

Comparison between two dialytic populations undergoing renal transplantation.

The outcome of renal transplantation in CAPD patients is still controversial since age and clinical differences often make comparison with hemodialysis patients difficult. The aim of this study was to analyse two homogeneous groups of patients, on CAPD and on hemodialysis. 18 CAPD (Group A) and 18 hemodialysis patients (Group B) were selected for a case-control analysis, matched for age, presence of acute tubular necrosis and Cyclosporine A regimen.