This was a retrospective study that compared outcomes in pediatric intestinal failure (IF) patients that were switched from ethanol lock therapy (ELT) to sodium bicarbonate lock therapy (SBLT). The primary outcome was rate of catheter-related blood stream infections (CRBSI). The secondary outcomes were number of hospitalizations, emergency room (ER) visits, central venous catheter (CVC)-related complications. In 4 patients, median rates of CRBSI were 2.77 (interquartile range [IQR] 0.6-5.6) on ELT versus 0 on SBLT per 1000 catheter days (P = 0.17). The median rates of hospitalizations and ER visits for CVC-related complications were 6.1 (IQR 3.2-10.2) on ELT versus 0 on SBLT (IQR 0-0; P = 0.11) and 2.8 (IQR 2-3.6) on ELT versus 1.8 (IQR 0-3.7) on SBLT per 1000 catheter days (P = 0.50), respectively. Rates of CVC-related complications were similar. No adverse events were reported. SBLT may be safe and effective for pediatric IF.

OBJECTIVE Lipid emulsion contributes to parenteral nutrition associated cholestasis (PNAC). For decades, soybean oil–based intravenous lipid emulsion (SO-ILE) was the predominant product. Recently, a multicomponent lipid emulsion containing soybean oil, medium-chain triglycerides, olive oil and fish oil (SMOF-ILE) has been used off-label in neonatal care. This study evaluates the incidence of PNAC in neonates who received SMOF-ILE or SO-ILE. METHODS This was a retrospective review of neonates who received SMOF-ILE or SO-ILE for at least 14 days. Patients receiving SMOF-ILE were matched based on gestational age (GA) and birth weight to a historical cohort receiving SO-ILE. The primary outcomes were the incidences of PNAC among all patients and patients without intestinal failure. The secondary outcomes were clinical outcomes and incidence of PNAC stratified by GA. Clinical outcomes included liver function tests, growth parameters, and development of retinopathy of prematurity and intraventricular hemorrhage. RESULTS Forty-three neonates who received SMOF-ILE were matched to 43 neonates who received SOILE. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics. The incidence of PNAC in the total population was 12% in the SMOF-ILE cohort and 23% in the SO-ILE cohort (p = 0.26). The lipid dosage of SMOF-ILE was significantly higher at time of peak direct serum bilirubin concentration compared with SO-ILE cohort (p = 0.05). Clinically significant differences were noted in laboratory endpoints in several subgroups. CONCLUSIONS There was no significant difference in the incidence of PNAC among neonates in a SMOFILE cohort compared with a historical SO-ILE cohort.