Ethanol Lock in the Management of Catheter Occlusion

Abstract

Catheter occlusion by lipid material has been associated with the use of lipid containing "all-in-one" compounded solutions during prolonged parenteral nutrition. Previous experience indicated that urokinase is ineffective in clearing such occlusions. We report five patients who developed catheter occlusion with lipid mixes; catheter patency was restored in four by the use of an ethanol solution. No complications were observed, and treatment continued uneventfully in those four subjects.