Flushing of Spigotted Silicone Central Venous Feeding Catheters—How Often?

Fourteen patients no longer requiring parenteral feeding but retaining the central venous feeding catheter while being assessed for adequate oral intake of nutrients, were included in a study to determine how long these catheters could be left without flushing and without becoming occluded. The catheters were left for between 2 and 6 days without flushing and none was occluded when tested. All the catheters were sterile on final withdrawal. (Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 9:375-376, 1985)