Better living through chemistry, constant monitoring, and prompt interventions: 26 years on home parenteral nutrition without major complications

Home Parenteral Nutrition and Intravenous Fluid Errors Discovered Through Novel Clinical Practice of Reconciling Compounding Records: A Case Series

Home parenteral nutrition (HPN) and home intravenous (IV) hydration are complex, high-risk life-sustaining therapies for children and adults with severe digestive disorders. HPN compounding errors have the potential to cause serious patient harm. Here we present a retrospective case series at an interdisciplinary pediatric HPN program that includes specialized pharmacists reconciling prescriptions against commercial compounding records. Seven HPN or IV hydration patients were affected by significant errors in anion balance, copper, potassium, sodium, and infusion volume. Outpatient pharmacists' or other clinicians' review of compounding records as part of routine quality assurance process is critical for identifying and preventing errors.

Discrepancies Between Prescribed and Actual Pediatric Home Parenteral Nutrition Solutions

BACKGROUND

Home parenteral nutrition (HPN) is increasingly prescribed for pediatric patients with complex medical conditions. Commercial vendors are widely available to compound HPN. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of discrepancies between written HPN prescriptions and commercially compounded solutions, as well as to record the associated severity of harm from discrepancies.

METHODS

From January to April 2013, 2 clinical pharmacists independently and prospectively reconciled HPN compounding records with electronic prescriptions (gold standard) during all routine ambulatory encounters to a multidisciplinary HPN program. Types, severity, and causes of discrepancies were recorded.

RESULTS

Sixty-one unique patients were identified for inclusion during 117 visits. HPN solutions were compounded at 13 unique vendors across 14 states. Of all 100 compounding records, 46 (46%) contained at least 1 discrepancy, with a total of 60 discrepancies identified, affecting 34 of 61 (56%) patients. There was at least 1 discrepancy in solutions originating from 10 of 13 (77%) home infusion companies. Discrepancies were classified as Medication Error Reporting and Prevention levels C (n = 37) and D (n = 23; ie, all reaching patient but not causing harm).

CONCLUSIONS

We found an alarmingly high rate of preparation discrepancies in a cohort of pediatric patients receiving HPN. Routine reconciliation of HPN compounds with intended prescriptions may be critical for ambulatory patients receiving this high-risk therapy. While home infusion commercial vendors provide an indispensable function, discrepancies and errors with potential for harm may be more common than previously appreciated.

Usefulness of exchanging a tunneled central venous catheter using a subcutaneous fibrous sheath

OBJECTIVES

The reserve of the venous route to the central veins is important for long-term parenteral nutrition (PN). Frequent catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) induces occlusion of the venous routes. Therefore, a modified exchange procedure using a tunneled central venous catheter (CVC) with a fibrous sheath was developed to preserve the route to the central veins.

METHODS

Seven patients who required long-term PN received the modified exchange procedure and the outcome of exchanged CVC was retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

The procedure was performed 10 times in seven patients. The venous routes were either the subclavicular or the internal jugular vein in all patients. The exchange of the catheter was due to CRBSI or occlusion in almost all patients. The mean duration of new catheter use was 296.2 days following the exchange. Four catheters continued to be used, and the remaining ones were removed. The reasons for removal were severe CRBSI and occlusion, each of which occurred in two catheterized patients, while the reason for removing the remaining catheters was because the patients no longer needed the catheters.

CONCLUSION

The modified catheter exchange using fibrous sheath, even in patients with CRBSI, appears to be an effective procedure for reserving the venous route to the central veins in patients who require either long-term PN or other treatments.