Ethanol Lock in the Management of Catheter Occlusion

Abstract
Catheter occlusion by lipid material has been associated with the use of lipid containing “all-in-one” compounded solutions during prolonged parenteral nutrition. Previous experience indicated that urokinase is ineffective in clearing such occlusions. We report five patients who developed catheter occlusion with lipid mixes; catheter patency was restored in four by the use of an ethanol solution. No complications were observed, and treatment continued uneventfully in those four subjects. (Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 11:507–508, 1987.