Anticipated impact of recent ethanol lock shortage and price increase on practice among pediatric intestinal rehabilitation programs across the United States

Association between virtual visits and central line-associated complications in adult patients receiving home parenteral nutrition: A retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

In response to coronavirus disease 19, healthcare organizations made dramatic and immediate shifts from in-person office to telehealth visits to provide care to patients while adhering to social distancing restrictions. The objective of this study was to test the efficacy of virtual visits compared with "brick and mortar" (in-person visits) for patients receiving home parenteral nutrition for clinical outcomes of the incidence of catheter complications and 30-day readmissions.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted between January 2020 and December 2020 on eligible patients managed by the Cleveland Clinic Home Nutrition Support and the Center Gut Rehabilitation and Transplant teams. Those receiving home parenteral nutrition who were seen in a follow-up clinic appointment were included.

RESULTS

Of 189 patients studied, 103 had in-person visits and 86 had virtual visits. A total of 7.9% (n = 15) of patients had catheter complications. Virtual visits demonstrated statistical noninferiority of the incidence of catheter-related complications when compared with in-person visits (90% CI, -0.051 to 0.106; margin <0.1). Readmission incidence for in-person visits was 8.5% (n = 16) and 6.3% (n = 12) for virtual visits. Virtual visits demonstrated statistical noninferiority to in-person visits for incidence of readmissions after the visit (90% CI, -0.094 to 0.106; margin <0.1).

CONCLUSION

Virtual visits demonstrate noninferiority to in-person visits based on the incidence of catheter complications and readmission rates. New evaluation techniques need to be developed for this high-risk populations in virtual visits to establish effective and safe patient management.

Review of cost-effectiveness analysis to study pediatric intestinal failure and transplant

Cost-effectiveness analysis is a comparative methodology used to determine how costs and benefits align for a given treatment when evaluated against one or more competing strategies. In intestinal failure, this may include direct comparisons between medical treatments vs transplant or individual care decisions. Teduglutide and antimicrobial lock therapy provide two recent examples of treatments in the United States that came under scrutiny due to cost. We demonstrate the use of cost-effectiveness analysis to critically examine these treatments in the US as an example that may be adapted to various healthcare contexts worldwide. We then discuss the required steps to employ this methodology more effectively in pediatric intestinal failure.

Administration of 4% tetrasodium EDTA lock solution and central venous catheter complications in high-risk pediatric patients with intestinal failure: A retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Selection of central venous catheter (CVC) lock solution impacts catheter mechanical complications and central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) in pediatric patients with intestinal failure. Disadvantages of the current clinical standards, heparin and ethanol lock therapy (ELT), led to the discovery of new lock solutions. High-risk pediatric patients with intestinal failure who lost access to ELT during a recent shortage were offered enrollment in a compassionate use trial with 4% tetrasodium EDTA (T-EDTA), a lock solution with antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and antithrombotic properties.

METHODS

We performed a descriptive cohort study including 14 high-risk pediatric patients with intestinal failure receiving 4% T-EDTA as a daily catheter lock solution. CVC complications were documented (repairs, occlusions, replacements, and CLABSIs). Complication rates on 4% T-EDTA were compared with baseline rates, during which patients were receiving either heparin or ELT (designated as heparin/ELT).

RESULTS

Patients initiated 4% T-EDTA at the time they were enrolled in the compassionate use protocol. Use of 4% T-EDTA resulted in a 50% reduction in CVC complications, compared with baseline rates on heparin/ELT (incidence rate ratio: 0.50; 95% CI, 0.25-1.004; P = 0.051).

CONCLUSION

In a compassionate use protocol for high-risk pediatric patients with intestinal failure, the use of 4% T-EDTA reduced composite catheter complications, including those leading to emergency department visits, hospital admissions, additional procedures, and mortality. This outcome suggests 4% T-EDTA has benefits over currently available lock solutions.

From intestinal failure to transplantation: Review on the current need for transplant indications under multidisciplinary transplant programs worldwide

INTRODUCTION

Intestinal failure, defined as the loss of gastrointestinal function to the point where nutrition cannot be maintained by enteral intake alone, presents numerous challenges in children, not least the timing of consideration of intestine transplantation.

OBJECTIVES

To describe the evolution of care of infants and children with intestinal failure including parenteral nutrition, intestine transplantation, and contemporary intestinal failure care.

METHODS

The review is based on the authors' experience supported by an in-depth review of the published literature.

RESULTS

The history of parenteral nutrition, including out-patient (home) administration, and intestine transplantation are reviewed along with the complications of intestinal failure that may become indications for consideration of intestine transplantation. Current management strategies for children with intestinal failure are discussed along with changes in need for intestine transplantation, recognizing the difficulty in generalizing recommendations due to the high level of heterogeneity of intestinal pathology and residual bowel anatomy and function.

DISCUSSION

Advances in the medical and surgical care of children with intestinal failure have resulted in improved transplant-free survival and a significant fall in demand for transplantation. Despite these improvements a number of children continue to fail rehabilitative care and require intestine transplantation as life-saving therapy or when the burden on ongoing parenteral nutrition becomes too great to bear.

Central venous catheter safety in pediatric patients with intestinal failure

Children with intestinal failure (IF) require long-term central venous access to provide life-sustaining parenteral nutrition. Mechanical, thrombotic, and infectious complications are potentially life-threatening and may necessitate central venous catheter (CVC) replacement. Repeated central line replacements may lead to a loss of vascular access sites and increases risk for intestinal transplantation. Children with IF face unique challenges for CVC safety given their young age, altered anatomy, and increased risk of thrombosis and infection. The following review addresses preventative, diagnostic, and treatment strategies for central line safety concerns specific to children with IF as well as recommendations for promoting catheter safety during activities, travel, and emergencies.

Pediatric intestinal rehabilitation

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The intestinal rehabilitation program (IRP) is a comprehensive treatment strategy that employs various approaches implemented by multidisciplinary teams to treat intestinal failure in children. This program has shown promising results, such as reducing complications and improving prognosis and quality of life (QOL). In this review, we discuss the current status of this program and relevant topics.

RECENT FINDINGS

IRP includes the prevention and treatment of various complications such as intestinal failure associated liver disease, catheter-related bloodstream infection or sepsis, and venous thromboembolism. In addition, treatment strategies such as glucagon-like peptide-2 analogs, surgical interventions, and intestinal transplantation have evolved over time and have contributed to improved outcomes. In addition, the scope and regions for IRP activities have expanded.

SUMMARY

IRP improves the prognosis and QOL of children with intestinal failure. The development of new drugs, surgical methods, and treatment strategies is expected to improve the current and future status of pediatric patients with intestinal failure. Furthermore, international institutions must collaborate, share knowledge, conduct joint research, and establish patient registries to advance IRP progress.

Managing nutrition support product shortages: What have we learned?

Product shortages related to the components of parenteral nutrition (PN) therapy have been well described over the past decade. The situation has more recently worsened and expanded globally because of the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has placed on supply chain issues and workforce demand. The impact of enteral nutrition (EN) product shortages is less well documented when compared with PN, and development of management strategies is often left up to the discretion of individual providers. The recent crisis in infant formula supply has heightened the national awareness of how a nutrition support product shortage can significantly impact patient safety. This review provides a historical perspective of PN and EN product shortages to gain insight into the lessons learned and applies this to strategies for managing current and future product shortages. Strategies for managing PN and EN shortages can best succeed if they are tailored to address aspects that are unique to the inpatient and outpatient care setting. In addition, patients who transition between care settings are vulnerable to harm related to product shortages if measures are not in place to communicate and address these shortages. Teamwork and communication within an organization and among key stakeholders are necessary to develop processes that aim to minimize patient harm related to product shortages.

Sodium Bicarbonate Locks May Be a Safe and Effective Alternative in Pediatric Intestinal Failure: A Pilot Study

This was a retrospective study that compared outcomes in pediatric intestinal failure (IF) patients that were switched from ethanol lock therapy (ELT) to sodium bicarbonate lock therapy (SBLT). The primary outcome was rate of catheter-related blood stream infections (CRBSI). The secondary outcomes were number of hospitalizations, emergency room (ER) visits, central venous catheter (CVC)-related complications. In 4 patients, median rates of CRBSI were 2.77 (interquartile range [IQR] 0.6-5.6) on ELT versus 0 on SBLT per 1000 catheter days ( P = 0.17). The median rates of hospitalizations and ER visits for CVC-related complications were 6.1 (IQR 3.2-10.2) on ELT versus 0 on SBLT (IQR 0-0; P = 0.11) and 2.8 (IQR 2-3.6) on ELT versus 1.8 (IQR 0-3.7) on SBLT per 1000 catheter days ( P = 0.50), respectively. Rates of CVC-related complications were similar. No adverse events were reported. SBLT may be safe and effective for pediatric IF.