Home parenteral nutrition using a totally implanted subcutaneous venous access device

Despite advances in the design and care of in-dwelling catheters, sepsis remains a significant problem in patients on long-term parenteral nutritional. In recent years there have been a number of reports concerning the successful use of totally implanted subcutaneous venous access devices in the management of patients requiring long-term intermittent intravenous administration of cytotoxic therapy and frequent blood sampling. The use of such a system for the administration of supplementary home parenteral nutrition in a patient with short-bowel syndrome is reported.