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Background: Ethanol lock therapy (ELT) has been performed for the purpose of preserving central venous catheters (CVC) in central venous catheter‐related blood stream infection (CRBSI), but evidence for its effectiveness is not established. We conducted a multicenter, prospective study on the ELT protocol to ascertain its safety and effectiveness against CRBSI. Methods: The subjects were patients aged over 1 year with potential for developing CRBSI who had long‐term indwelling silicone CVCs. After culturing the catheterized blood, a 70% ethanol lock was performed daily for 2–4 h for 7 days. The effectiveness rate of ELT for single and multiple courses, the presence or absence of relapse of CRBSI within 4 weeks of treatment, and whether the CVC could be salvaged after 4 weeks were examined. Results: From September 2014 to August 2018, 49 cases from six hospitals were enrolled in the study. Catheter blockage was seen in one case and the CVC was removed. A single course of ELT was effective in episodes 88% (42/48). In the remaining three episodes that failed after a single course of ELT, a second ELT was performed; however, all were ineffective. In episodes 93% (40/42), no CRBSI relapse was seen up to 4 weeks after the end of treatment. In episodes 84% (41/49), the catheter could be preserved for 4 weeks or more after the end of treatment. Facial flushing was seen in two cases as an adverse event; however, this was transient and soon disappeared. Conclusion: ELT is effective for 88% of CRBSI and 84% of catheters can be salvaged; therefore, this protocol is considered useful. Trial registration: UMIN000013677. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Idiopathic chronic constipation (ICC) is one of the most common clinical conditions in children. The pathophysiology is multifactorial and differs from case to case. To investigate the relationship between anorectal motility (ARM) and clinical course in children with ICC, anorectal function was evaluated using fecoflowmetry in nine children aged 2-14 years (mean 6.1). Three were boys and six were girls. Pressure fluctuations in the rectum and anal canal were simultaneously recorded during saline (250-500 ml) infusion into the rectum. The dynamics of defecation were evaluated using recordings of the saline evacuation curve from the rectum in each patient. Seven patients showed periodic contractions of the rectum accompanied (five) or unaccompanied (two) by relaxations of the anal canal during saline infusion. These patients achieved comfortable spontaneous defecation during follow-up periods ranging from 5 to 20 months. The other two exhibited no rectal contractions in spite of relaxations of the anal canal, and did not respond well to long-term medical management. In eight patients segmental fecoflowmetric curves showed a significantly lower flow rate and longer evacuation time than those of controls. Fecoflowmetry is a simple and non-invasive technique for evaluation of the ability to defecate. Disturbances of ARM may play an important role in patients with severe ICC. When evaluating anorectal function in children with chronic constipation, more attention should be paid to ARM and fecodynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]