Reduced catheter sepsis and prolonged catheter life using a tunnelled silicone rubber catheter for total parenteral nutrition.

One hundred and five patients were given total parenteral nutrition (TPN) for an average of 15 days via centrally placed venous catheters. Thirty-seven polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and 80 silicone rubber catheters were used. All the silicone rubber and 8 of the PVC catheters were buried in a subcutaneous tunnel. When silicone rubber catheters were used, there was significantly less catheter sepsis (P much less than 0.01), catheter life was prolonged by 50 per cent and fewer catheter insertions per patient were necessary.