Journal of pediatric surgery
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Urokinase was used to clear occluded silastic central venous catheters in 14 pediatric patients. The catheters, which had been placed into a neck vein and tunnelled out through the skin of the anterior chest wall, were being used for either long-term parenteral nutrition or chemotherapy. Occluded catheters that could not be cleared by simple flushing with heparinized saline were filled with a solution of urokinase, which was left in place for 2 hours before the catheter was flushed a second time. ⋯ Two catheters remained partially occluded. Only four catheters were removed because of persistent occlusion. When simpler techniques fail, urokinase instillation appears a safe and effective alternative to the more common practice of removing occluded central venous catheters in children.