Children requiring a central venous catheter (CVC) for long-term parenteral nutrition (PN) are at risk of CVC breakage. Modern intestinal failure (IF) management aims to preserve vascular access sites. CVC repair rather than removal is hence attempted for broken catheters. The aim of this study was to describe causes and outcomes of CVC repairs in home PN dependent children.

All patients (ages 0–17 years) with CVC dependency enrolled in the IF rehabilitation program of a pediatric referral center were identified, and those who underwent a CVC repair between January 2019 and November 2020 included. Data on associated cause for breakage and incidence of central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) post repair were documented retrospectively. Descriptive statistics including medians, percentages, and frequencies were used.

Forty children, 15 males (37%) and 25 females (63%), were identified. Fifteen of 40 (37.5%) patients underwent a total of 29 CVC repairs (0.1 repairs per 1000 catheter days); 8 of 15 (53%; 33% females) were <5 years of age. The most common reason for repair was CVC fracture by biting (41%) followed by catheter occlusion with intraluminal PN deposition (13.2%). Repair was successful in 100% cases. Only 1 patient had a confirmed CLABSI post repair (1/29 repairs; 3%) who presented 3 days late after the initial catheter breakage. Catheter salvage was successful with antibiotics.

CVC repair in our cohort was very successful and infection rate after repair minimal. CVC repair rather than removal is recommended to preserve central venous access.