A Feasibility Pilot Randomised Control Trial to Compare Failure Rates between Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) and Anti-infective Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) lines in patients that receive Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN)

This project will address a significant problem in healthcare which is to provide safe, effective and reliable vascular access when commencing a patient on Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN). TPN is used in patients where the gastro-intestinal tract cannot be used for the ingestion, digestion and absorption of essential nutrition. Two types of central venous access devices (CVADs) are central venous catheters (CVCs) which are inserted centrally into the veins on the neck and peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) which are inserted via veins in the arms. PICCs can be associated with central line associated blood stream infection (CLABSI), thrombotic complications (thrombosis) and mechanical complications (catheter occlusion, phlebitis). These complications impact on the cost of care, and have the potential to be a life-threatening adverse event. To help combat this problem PICC lines have been developed that are coated with antiseptics or antibiotics, referred to as anti-infective lines. There are few comparison studies that have analysed the safety and costs of the lines by comparing anti-infective PICCs and standard PICCs in patients that receive TPN. Despite this gap in research, there is an increased use of the PICC line based on perceived time benefit, lower cost and fewer mechanical complications, where there is a lack of scientific evidence to support this choice. The main aim of this study is to determine if there is a difference in the failure rates and costs between the patients who receive TPN via an anti-infective PICC line and a standard PICC line. This feasibility pilot study will be a carried out a single centre. Participants will be patients requiring the insertion of a CVAD for delivery of TPN during the study period that meet the inclusion criteria and sign consent. They will be randomised into one of two groups, we aim to recruit 30 patients per group: * group 1 (Anti-infective PICC) * group 2 (Standard PICC) It is envisaged that findings from this study will provide a foundation for a larger study to explore the failure rates of PICC and anti-infective PICC lines used for delivery of parenteral nutrition, and to develop recommendations for the choice of PICC in patients receiving TPN.