Parenteral nutntlon has been an essential part of postoperative care of neonates requiring major surgery who are unable to tolerate enteral feeding for long periods during the postoperative period. However, TPN via central venous catheters(central TPN), used in increasing trend, still presents significant morbidity. To find out whether TPN via peripheral veins(peripheral TPN) could be used as a viable alternative for postoperative parenteral nutrition in neonates, a clinical study was carried out by a retrospective analysis of 53 neonates subjected to peripheral TPN for more than 7 days after surgery. Operations consisted of procedures for esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula, gastroschisis and omphalocele. Surgery was performed at the Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Hanyang University Hospitall, from 1983 to 1994. The mean total duration of TPN was 13.3 days (range; 7-58 days), the average daily total fluid intake was 117.6 ml/kg during TPN and 158.6 ml/kg during subsequent oral feeding. The average daily total calorie intake was 57.7 kcal/kg during full strength TPN and 101.3 kcal/kg during subsequent oral feeding. The mean urine output was maintained at 3.5 ml/kg/hour during TPN and at 3.6 ml/kg/hour during subsequent oral feeding. The increment of body weight observed during TPN was 132g in TEF, 53g in gastroschisis and 3g in omphalocele patients, while loss of body weight was not observed. The mortality rate was 5.7%(3/53) and was related to the underlying congenital anomalies, not the TPN. The most common complication of peripheral TPN observed was laboratory findings suggestive of liver dysfunction in 23 cases( 43.4%) with no significant clinical symptom or signs in any case, transient pulmonary edema in one case, and generalized edema in one case. None of the major complications usually expected associated with central TPN were observed. The result of this study suggest that peripheral TPN can be used for adeguate postoperative nutritional support in neonates requiring 2 to 3 weeks of TPN.

Percutaneous infraclavicular subclavian catheterization has been widely used for a total parenteral nutrition, hemodynamic monitoring and for venous access in difficult clinical situations. Many authors have claimed the infraclavicular cannulation of the subclavian vein in the tiniest infants can be performed with safety and ease, but there are always possibility of serious complications in this method. We present our experiences of peripheral venous cutdown with Broviac catheter. Author routinely introduced Broviac catheter into central vein via peripheral venous cutdown. There was no life threatening complications and no catheter related death. The complication rate was very low. The catheter related sepsis was documented in only two patient(4.7%). The average catheter longivity was 19.59 days. In view of the safety and low rate of complication, we think that peripheral venous cutdown with Broviac catheter should be the method of choice when central venous access is neccesary in infants. The infraclavicular subclavian catheterization should be reserved in infants with few accessable peripheral vein.