Safety and efficacy of taurolidine/urokinase versus taurolidine/heparin as a tunneled catheter lock solution in hemodialysis patients: a prospective, randomized, controlled study.

Background: Taurolidine citrate with heparin (Taurolock/Hep) is a promising central venous catheter lock solution. Despite its universal use among our hemodialysis patients, the prevalence of catheter malfunction was high. We aimed to compare Taurolock/Hep and taurolidine citrate with urokinase (Taurolock/U) as a catheter lock solution in order to identify whether either solution could reduce catheter-related dysfunction. Methods: In this prospective, randomized, controlled trial, patients were randomized to receive either Taurolock/Hep or Taurolock/U and were followed for 6 months. Episodes of acute catheter thrombosis, requirement of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) and incidence of catheter-related blood stream infection (CRBSI) were recorded, along with dialysis adequacy (Kt/V), blood flow rates (BFRs) and adverse events. Results: There were 93 inclusions (85 patients) in the Taurolock/Hep group and 84 inclusions in the Taurolock/U group (79 patients). Three catheters were removed in the Taurolock/Hep group because of acute thrombosis, while no catheter was removed for the same reason in the Taurolock/U group. The total number of all-causes catheter exchange (acute thrombosis and CRBSI) was significantly lower in Taurolock/U group (P = 0.028). rt-PA was used significantly less often in the Taurolock/U group than in the Taurolock/Hep group (P = 0.006). Moreover, higher BFR and Kt/V were noted in the Taurolock/U group than in the Taurolock/Hep group, although the differences were not uniformly significant. Conclusion: Taurolock/U is a safe and effective tunneled dialysis catheter lock solution, with a low rate of catheter exchange.

Diclofenac plus lidocaine gel for pain relief during intrauterine device insertion. A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of diclofenac potassium combined with 2% lidocaine gel in reducing the pain of intrauterine device (IUD) insertion. STUDY DESIGN: We randomized 90 parous women requesting copper T380A IUD insertion in a 1:1 ratio to active or placebo treatment. Active treatment included administration of two 50-mg diclofenac potassium tablets 1h before IUD insertion, application of 3mL of 2% lidocaine gel on the anterior cervical lip 3min before IUD insertion and placement of a cotton swab soaked in 2% lidocaine gel in the cervical canal 3min before IUD insertion. Women in the placebo group received placebo tablets and gel. Participants assessed pain intensity using a 10-cm visual analog scale (VAS). We considered a 2-cm difference in VAS pain score between both groups during IUD insertion to be a clinically significant difference. RESULTS: Subjects receiving active treatment, as compared to placebo, experienced less pain during tenaculum placement (1.66±0.85 vs. 2.33±1.19, p=.003) and IUD insertion (3.14±0.92 vs. 3.94±1.3, p=.001). Women who delivered only by cesarean section had higher pain scores with IUD insertion compared with women with previous vaginal deliveries (4.41±1.24 vs. 3.29±1.05, p=.001). CONCLUSION: Diclofenac potassium combined with 2% lidocaine gel slightly reduced pain scores during tenaculum application and copper IUD insertion in parous women; however, the reduction in pain scores lacked clinical significance. IMPLICATIONS: Although we found a statistically significant lowering of pain scores with pretreatment with diclofenac potassium and lidocaine gel in parous women having copper IUD placement, the reduction is not clinically relevant. These findings may be more relevant for nulliparous women who experience more pain than parous women with IUD insertion and support studies of diclofenac potassium and lidocaine gel in this population.

Successful use of a bivalirudin treatment protocol to prevent extracorporeal thrombosis in ambulatory hemodialysis patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is an uncommon problem in hemodialysis (HD) patients. There have been a few reports on the use of lepirudin, argatroban, or danaparoid in the management of extracorporeal thrombosis (ECT) during dialysis in these patients, because heparin is contraindicated. Here, we report the first long-term use of bivalirudin to prevent ECT. Our study was conducted at Fahd Bin Jassim Kidney Center in Doha, Qatar. All patients diagnosed with HIT were included. A bivalirudin treatment protocol was developed with the initial dosage and dosage adjustments based on the value of activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), the risk of bleeding, and the recurrence of ECT. Eight patients were positive for HIT AB. Among them, three were excluded: two due to the use of warfarin for atrial fibrillation and one due to a negative repeat HIT AB test with no ECT. Five patients who were positive for HIT AB and experienced recurrent ECT events during dialysis were included. These patients were monitored while on bivalirudin protocol for a mean of 4.6 ± 2 months, during which they received a mean number of HD treatments of 66 ± 24. There were no bleeding events or adverse reactions related to bivalirudin during the study. Here, we report the first long-term successful use of a bivalirudin protocol to prevent ECT in ambulatory HD patients with HIT. This protocol allowed for a simple dosing initiation with easy adjustment based on weight, aPTT, and recurrence of ECT events. The protocol provided excellent safety.