Home parenteral support in patients with incurable cancer. Patient characteristics of importance for catheter related complications and overall survival

Outcomes of parenteral nutrition in patients with advanced cancer and malignant bowel obstruction

BACKGROUND

Malignant bowel obstruction (MBO) affects 3% to 15% of all cancer patients. In patients with advanced cancer and inoperable MBO, the average survival varies between four to nine weeks. Parenteral nutrition (PN) may improve survival in specific patient populations with malignant bowel obstruction.

AIMS

This retrospective, single-center cohort study aimed to review individual patient outcomes on PN in the setting of advanced cancer with a diagnosis of MBO and identify clinical and laboratory markers predictive of short- and long-term survival to further highlight patients that would benefit from PN in the setting of an inoperable MBO.

RESULTS

In a retrospective analysis of 68 patients receiving PN for inoperable MBO, the median survival was 142 (IQR: 63.3-239.5) days. Patients experienced a median number of two hospital readmissions (range: 0-10) and spent a median of 29 days (range: 0-105) in the hospital after starting PN. Eighteen (26.5%) patients developed a catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI). A diagnosis of appendiceal cancer was identified as a predictive marker of improved survival (HR: 0.53, 95% CI: 0.29-0.92, p = 0.023).

CONCLUSIONS

The use of PN in the context of end-of-life cancer care is a practice that necessitates improvement. Recognizing the outcomes and patient experiences of PN utilization is essential to physicians and patients.

High-protein home parenteral nutrition in malnourished oncology patients: a systematic literature review

INTRODUCTION

Up to 83% of oncology patients are affected by cancer-related malnutrition, depending on tumour location and patient age. Parenteral nutrition can be used to manage malnutrition, but there is no clear consensus as to the optimal protein dosage. The objective of this systematic literature review (SLR) was to identify studies on malnourished oncology patients receiving home parenteral nutrition (HPN) where protein or amino acid delivery was reported in g/kg bodyweight/day, and to compare outcomes between patients receiving low (< 1 g/kg bodyweight/day), standard (1-1.5 g/kg/day), and high-protein doses (> 1.5 g/kg/day).

METHODS

Literature searches were performed on 5th October 2021 in Embase, MEDLINE, and five Cochrane Library and Centre for Reviews and Dissemination databases. Searches were complemented by hand-searching of conference proceedings, a clinical trial registry, and bibliographic reference lists of included studies and relevant SLRs/meta-analyses.

RESULTS

Nineteen publications were included; sixteen investigated standard protein, two reported low protein, and one included both, but none assessed high-protein doses. Only one randomised controlled trial (RCT) was identified; all other studies were observational studies. The only study to compare two protein doses reported significantly greater weight gain in patients receiving 1.15 g/kg/day than those receiving 0.77 g/kg/day.

CONCLUSION

At present, there is insufficient evidence to determine the optimal protein dosage for malnourished oncology patients receiving HPN. Data from non-HPN studies and critically ill patients indicate that high-protein interventions are associated with increased overall survival and quality of life; further studies are needed to establish whether the same applies in malnourished oncology patients.

Outcomes of parenteral nutrition in patients with advanced cancer and malignant bowel obstruction

Background

Malignant bowel obstruction (MBO) affects 3-15% of all cancer patients. In patients with advanced cancer and inoperable MBO, the average survival varies between four to nine weeks. Parenteral nutrition (PN) may improve survival in specific patient populations with malignant bowel obstruction.

Aims

This retrospective, single-center cohort study aimed to review individual patient outcomes on PN in the setting of advanced cancer with a diagnosis of MBO and identify clinical and laboratory markers predictive of short- and long-term survival to further highlight patients that would benefit from PN in the setting of an inoperable MBO.

Results

In a retrospective analysis of 68 patients receiving PN for inoperable MBO, the median survival was 142 (IQR: 63.3-239.5) days. Patients experienced a median number of two hospital readmissions (range: 0-10) and spent a median of 29 days (range: 0-105) in the hospital after starting PN. Eighteen (26.5%) patients developed a catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI). A diagnosis of appendiceal cancer was identified as a predictive marker of improved survival (HR: 0.53, 95% CI: 0.29-0.92, p = 0.023).

Conclusions

The use of PN in the context of end-of-life cancer care is a practice that necessitates improvement. Recognizing the outcomes and patient experiences of PN utilization is essential to physicians and patients.

The Role of Parenteral Nutrition for Incurable Cancer: Bridging Expectations and Reality

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

In this review, we examine the role for parenteral nutrition (PN) for nutritional support of patients with advanced, incurable cancer with an emphasis on bridging the divide between expectations and reality.

RECENT FINDINGS

As the rates of cancer have continued to rise worldwide, the utility of PN has continued to be studied. Due to multiple reasons, high-quality research studies have been scarce, and much of the data is based on observational studies. The recent trend appears to support the use of PN in carefully selected patients. Importantly, the effect on quality of life also should be considered when deciding to initiate PN. PN can be a supportive lifeline for patients with advanced, incurable cancer. The medical team should consider each patient individually to decide if PN should be offered. It is of paramount important for the medical team to engage in shared decision-making with the patient and caregiver(s) to ensure that PN is aligned with their goals and wishes.

Reaching consensus on a home infusion central line-associated bloodstream infection surveillance definition via a modified Delphi approach

BACKGROUND

A consensus on a central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) surveillance definition in home infusion is needed to standardize measurement and benchmark CLABSI to provide data to drive improvement initiatives METHODS: Experts across fields including home infusion therapy, infectious diseases, and healthcare epidemiology convened to perform a 3-step modified Delphi approach to obtain input and achieve consensus on a candidate home infusion CLABSI definition.

RESULTS

The numerator criterion was identified by participants as involving one of the 2 following: (1) recognized pathogen isolated from blood culture and pathogen is not related to infection at another site, or (2) one of the following signs or symptoms: fever of 38°C (100.4°F), chills, or hypotension (systolic blood pressure ≤90 mm Hg), and one of the 2 following: (A) common skin contaminant isolated from 2 blood cultures drawn on separate occasions and organism is not related to infection at another site, or (B) common skin contaminant isolated from blood culture from patient with intravascular access device and provider institutes appropriate antimicrobial therapy. The criteria for a denominator included days from the day of admission with a central venous catheter to day of removal of central venous catheter. In addition, 11 inclusion criteria and 4 exclusion criteria were included.

DISCUSSION

Home infusion therapy and healthcare epidemiology experts developed candidate criteria for a home infusion CLABSI surveillance definition.

CONCLUSIONS

Home care and home infusion agencies can use this definition to monitor their own CLABSI rates and implement preventative strategies.

Infectious Complications in Home Parenteral Nutrition: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Comparing Peripherally-Inserted Central Catheters with Other Central Catheters

Background: Home parenteral nutrition (HPN) has become a common therapy. There is still controversy regarding the possibility that peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) may diminish catheter-related blood stream infection (CRBSI) rates. Methods: We searched the PubMed database for studies reporting the rates of CRBSI with HPN. Study selection was performed independently by three investigators. Disagreements were discussed and resolved by consensus or by arbitration by an author not involved in the search. The National Institutes of Health Quality Assessment Tools was used to assess the methodological quality of the studies. Meta-analyses were performed using MetaXL 5.3 with the quality effects model. Results: Screening of the article titles and abstracts yielded 134 full text articles for evaluation. Only three prospective studies that included appropriate data were considered for the final analysis. The relative risk of the CRBSI rate was 0.41 (0.14–1.17) for PICC vs. tunneled catheters. The relative risk of the CRBSI rate was 0.16 (0.04–0.64) for PICC vs. ports. The relative risk of the thrombosis rate was 3.16 (0.20–49.67) for PICCs vs. tunneled. Conclusions: There is insufficient evidence to show a difference in CRBSI rates between PICCs and tunneled catheters. On the other hand, PICCs showed lower CRBSI rates than ports. There was also no difference in the rate of catheter-related thrombosis and mechanical complications.

Epidemiology of Infectious and Noninfectious Catheter Complications in Patients Receiving Home Parenteral Nutrition: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Patients receiving parenteral nutrition (PN) as their primary source of nutrition are at high risk for both infectious and noninfectious catheter complications (catheter-related infections, catheter occlusion, and venous thrombosis). The aim of this review was to synthesize and evaluate what is known about catheter complications and prevention strategies in the PN population. Three electronic databases (Medline, Embase, and CINAHL) were screened for studies published between January 2012 and February 2019 regarding infectious and noninfectious catheter complications in patients receiving PN. Rates of infectious and noninfectious catheter complications, prevalence of causative pathogens, potential risk factors, and prevention strategies via the use of antimicrobial lock therapy (ALT) were assessed. Fifty-three catheter complication studies and 12 ALT studies were included. Studies were grouped by definition of complication: catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSI) or central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI). Random effects summary rates per 1000 catheter days were 0.85 CRBSI episodes (95% CI 0.27-2.64) and 1.65 CLABSI episodes (95% CI 1.09-2.48). Use of taurolidine or ethanol ALT was efficacious in reducing infectious catheter complications; however, several studies had concerns for adverse mechanical complications. Potential risk factors for catheter complications were highly varied and often contradictory between studies. The rates of catheter complications were higher among catheterized patients receiving PN compared with nationally reported rates of complications in all catheterized patients. Risk factors for catheter complications need to be better understood for targeted prophylactic use of ALT. Future studies are warranted; however, they should be conducted using more standardized definitions and criteria.