Peritoneal Dialysis Catheter-Associated Peritonitis Caused by Mycobacterium abscessus: A True Infection?

A nine-year-old male with trisomy 21, end-stage renal disease (ESRD) due to reflux nephropathy presented with suspected peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter-associated peritonitis. One week after receiving an intraperitoneal antibiotic, he presented again with persistent peritonitis symptoms and bloody PD fluid. He underwent exploratory laparotomy, abdominal washout, and PD catheter removal. Mycobacterium abscessus (M. abscessus) was found in the intraoperative peritoneal fluid culture. After the catheter removal, the child's symptoms significantly improved without antimicrobial medications. He was maintained on hemodialysis three times a week and underwent a successful kidney transplant eight months after this episode. Non-tuberculous mycobacterial peritonitis should be considered in patients with culture-negative peritonitis when there is no intraperitoneal antibiotic response. M. abscessus is a rapidly growing atypical Mycobacterium found in the environment and can contaminate medical devices. Our case involved an infection from a contaminated PD catheter since the patient's symptoms improved after PD catheter removal.

Central venoplasty followed by 'double guidewire railroad technique' as a bailout strategy in difficult tunnelled dialysis catheter insertion.

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients frequently encounter challenges at the time of dialysis catheter insertion from concomitantly associated with thoracic central venous obstruction (TCVO). TCVO complicates the placement of tunnelled dialysis catheters (TDCs). In cases where TCVO is unexpectedly encountered and TDC insertion becomes difficult, central venoplasty followed by catheter reinsertion is required. This report details a novel technique to salvage a TDC that was trapped at the TCVO site after removal of the peel-away sheath. We describe the case of a 67-year-old diabetic male ESRD patient on haemodialysis since 2017, with history of multiple prior accesses, who presented with acute thrombosis of his arteriovenous fistula. TDC placement was attempted via the left internal jugular vein (IJV). Angiography revealed severe stenosis at the left brachiocephalic vein-superior vena cava confluence, necessitating venoplasty. Post-venoplasty, the TDC could not be advanced past the IJV venous entry site due to unfavourable catheter tip profile. Utilising a double guidewire railroad technique, the TDC was successfully reinserted, ensuring functional dialysis. The technique carries potential risks, which mandates careful hemodynamic monitoring and prophylactic measures. In conclusion, percutaneous placement of a TDC following a central venoplasty is at times life-saving in patients with exhausted peripheral vascular access and concomitant TCVO. In the absence of a peel-away sheath, TDC reinsertion using a double guidewire railroad technique is a helpful technique for salvaging the catheter, especially in financially-constrained settings.

An unusual case of Herbaspirillum huttiense bacteraemia in a haemodialysis patient.

Herbaspirillum spp. is a common environmental bacterium usually found in soil, plant roots, and water. It is rarely associated with infection in immunocompromised patients, and rarely reported infections in immunocompetent patients. We report the first case of a Herbaspirillum huttiense bacteraemia in a non-neutropenic home haemodialysis patient. A 57-year-old male presented to our hospital with a 3-day history of malaise, fevers, rigours, and anorexia following dialysis through his central line. On examination, he was pyrexic (temperature 38.7°C) with splinter haemorrhages noted, but no other signs of infection were present. Blood cultures revealed a polymicrobial infection, with Serratia liquefaciens and Corynebacterium jeikeium isolated from the central line and Herbaspirillum sp. was isolated from both the central line and a peripheral culture. A later peripheral blood culture following central line removal isolated Herbaspirillum huttiense. Regular biological testing of his home water supply and dialysate detected no colony forming units of non-fermenting gram-negative bacilli. He was initially treated with ceftriaxone and vancomycin initially, followed by ertapenem and vancomycin. Intravenous antibiotics were ceased following 5 days after central line removal and he made an uneventful recovery.

Impact of risk factors on the incidence of tunneled dialysis catheter infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Tunneled dialysis catheters (TDCs) are important for hemodialysis in patients awaiting a permanent surgical solution, kidney transplantation or without feasible surgical access. Infection of a TDC is a common and severe complication, which often requires removal of the TDC and causes high morbidity and mortality. To date, several risk factors for TDC infections have been reported. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to provide an overview of currently known risk factors. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted, including all studies describing patient-, catheter-, and dialysis-related risk factors for TDC infections. In case sufficient data was available for a risk factor, a meta-analysis with random effects model was performed. RESULTS: Out of 1273 studies, 30 were included describing a total of 71 risk factors. A meta-analysis was conducted for 26 risk factors. The average incidence of TDC infections was 1.16 ± 0.70/1000 catheter days. Diabetes (odds ratio, OR 1.96), coronary artery disease (OR 2.16), peripheral artery disease (OR 2.28), history of sepsis (OR 2.79), and the number of prior TDCs (OR 1.24) were the most significant risk factors for infection. CONCLUSION: Several risk factors are associated with increased TDC infection rates. Most of these risk factors are also linked with infection in other populations and most likely reflect the general frailty of hemodialysis patients. The association between many risk factors and TDC infections was often unclear due to the low number of studies available. Additional large cohort studies are necessary to demonstrate the relevance of these risk factors.

An abysmal conundrum associated with a misplaced dialysis catheter.

A 25-year-old female patient with chronic glomerulonephritis, initiated on haemodialysis presented with high-grade fever, a dysfunctional catheter, low oxygen saturation and unstable blood pressure. Upon evaluation, the patient was febrile with elevated white blood cell counts. She was intubated, started on inotropes and transferred to the intensive care unit. Chest radiography showed that the tunnelled internal jugular dialysis catheter had migrated to the inferior vena cava. Echocardiography and transoesophageal echocardiography showed severe heart dysfunction with a large thrombus attached to the catheter, indicating catheter-related atrial thrombus (CRAT). CT pulmonary angiography revealed blockage of the segmental pulmonary arteries, suggesting pulmonary embolism. Blood and tracheal cultures revealed Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The patient was administered appropriate antibiotics and anticoagulants and underwent surgical removal of the thrombus and the catheter. This case demonstrates the risks associated with improper placement of dialysis catheters and highlights the brief management of CRAT.

The efficacy of cuff-shaving combined with negative pressure wound therapy in refractory exit-site and tunnel infections: a single center experience.

BACKGROUND: Refractory exit-site infections (ESIs) and tunnel infections (TIs) are challenging complications for patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD). This study compared the outcomes of surgical intervention, notably the cuff-shaving (CS) procedure coupled with negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT), and conservative management strategies for patients with refractory ESI and TI. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent PD at our center, focusing on the incidence and management of ESI and TI. We evaluated and compared treatment outcomes, including ESI scores, frequency of ESI and/or TI, identification of causative microorganisms, and duration of catheter survival or time until removal. RESULTS: We identified 97 episodes of catheter-related ESI and/or TI across 71 patients with an incidence rate of 0.15 episodes per patient-year. Of the 23 patients with refractory ESI and/or TI, surgical intervention was performed in 8, while 15 chose conservative management. In the one-month follow-up, patients who underwent CS combined with NPWT showed no complications such as leakage, and their local symptoms resolved completely. The mean PD catheter survival time was significantly longer in the surgical group (29.38 ± 7.25 months) than in the conservative group (7.86 ± 2.13 months). Surgical intervention demonstrated a significantly higher therapeutic efficacy and extended catheter survival. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of CS and NPWT as a surgical approach is crucial for eradicating infectious foci and significantly improving the longevity of PD catheter function. This integrated surgical strategy offers a promising solution for the management of refractory ESI and TI in patients undergoing PD.

Comparison of Dialysis Catheter Insertion and Complications Under Ultrasound Guidance with or without Fluoroscopic Assistance: A Randomized Study.

Background: Fluoroscopy is considered to be the gold standard and an essential requirement for catheter insertion. However, there is a paucity of data regarding the outcomes in ultrasound (USG)-guided insertion with and without fluoroscopy. We compared the complications of USG-guided tunneled dialysis catheter (TDC) insertion with and without fluoroscopy assistance. Materials and Methods: This was a single-center randomized controlled trial (RCT) done in a tertiary hospital in North India. After screening 153 patients, 149 were enrolled: 87 were randomized into USG-guided insertion without fluoroscopy (group A) and 62 were randomized into USG-guided insertion with fluoroscopy (group B). All insertions were done in a dedicated procedure room by trained nephrologists. Outcomes were analyzed at baseline and at 1-month follow-up. Mechanical complications as well as infective and thrombotic complications were compared between both the groups. Results: TDC insertion was successful (100%) in all the study participants (N = 149). One hundred twenty-nine catheters (86.5%) were inserted in the first attempt, 19 (12.5%) in the second attempt, and one catheter insertion required three attempts for insertion. The mean age of study participants was 43 years (±16.5), and males constituted 63% of the study cohort. Baseline laboratory characteristics of the two groups were comparable. The mean time of catheter insertion was 41.26 min (standard deviation [SD] 11.8) in group A and 47.74 min (SD 17.2) in group B (P = 0.007). The mean score of ease of catheter insertion, exit site bleed, infective and mechanical complications were not different between the two groups. Conclusion: Our study concluded that fluoroscopy has no additional advantage in reducing mechanical, infective, or thrombotic complications. In experienced hands, USG-guided TDC insertion without fluoroscopy assistance is as good as the insertion done with fluoroscopy assistance, with a shorter procedure time.

Effect of puncture position on catheter patency rate during tunnelled dialysis catheter insertion from the right internal jugular vein.

Background: No recommendations have been made regarding the puncture position during tunnelled dialysis catheter (TDC) insertion from right internal jugular vein (RIJV). We investigated the effect of puncture positioning along with other characteristics and clinical factors associated with TDCs to determine their correlation with catheter patency rate. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed TDC insertion procedures performed between January 2018 and December 2020 at a single institution. Patients were monitored for at least 1 year or until TDC removal or replacement. The distance on the post-operative chest radiography were measured to determine the height of puncture position. End points were freedom from catheter dysfunction. Results: Total 949 catheters met the eligibility criteria. Catheter dysfunction occurred in 233 patients and catheter infection in 127 patients. By multivariate analysis, female sex [hazard ratio (HR) =1.497, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.119-2.002; P=0.007] and split-tip catheter (HR =1.453, 95% CI: 1.087-1.944; P=0.012) were associated with an increased rate of catheter dysfunction. Every 10-year increment in age (HR =1.243, 95% CI: 1.123-1.376; P<0.001) and every 1-cm increase in the height of the catheter insertion site (HR =1.270, 95% CI: 1.096-1.473; P=0.001) were also associated with an increased rate of catheter dysfunction. After classifying the height of puncture position into 3 groups, significant worse patency was observed in the catheter with puncture height more than 4 cm (P=0.025). No immediate complications were observed. Conclusions: TDC insertion at a high puncture site correlates with an increased risk of catheter dysfunction. Puncturing the RIJV close to the clavicle is safe and enhances catheter patency.

Suture passer combined with two-hole laparoscopic peritoneal dialysis catheterization in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic techniques are being widely applied for peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter (PDC) placement. The suture passer is a novel fixation tool that aims to reduce catheter migration. We compared the clinical value of the suture passer combined with two-hole laparoscopic PDC placement to open surgical placement by evaluating preoperative and postoperative conditions, as well as the onset of complications in both groups. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted including 169 patients who underwent PDC placement surgery from January 2021 to May 2023. Based on the method employed, patients were divided into two groups: the suture passer combined with a two-hole laparoscopy group (SLG) and the open surgical group (SG). Comprehensive patient information, including general data, preoperative and postoperative indicators, peritoneal function after surgery, and the incidence rate of complications, were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: The SLG showed a statistically significant decrease in operative time, intraoperative blood loss, and 6-month postoperative drift rate compared to the SG (p < 0.05). No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of sex, age, primary disease, hospitalization time, hospitalization costs, preoperative and postoperative examination indicators, peritonitis, and omental wrapping. CONCLUSIONS: Suture passer combined with two-hole laparoscopic PDC placement, characterized by simplicity and facilitating secure catheter fixation, was deemed safe and effective for patients undergoing PD. It reduces the catheter migration rate and improved surgical comfort. Overall, this technique demonstrates favorable outcomes in clinical practice.

Optimal volume for the draw-and-return methods to enhance activated partial thromboplastin time ratio accuracy in hemodialysis patients with central venous catheters.

Background: Significant errors of activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) ratio were frequently observed in blood sampling from central venous dialysis catheter (CVC) of hemodialysis (HD) patients. Following the draw-and-return methods, initial blood withdrawal from the catheter before sampling can reduce the error, but the optimal withdrawal volume remains undetermined. Aim: The objective of this study is to determine the optimal blood withdrawal volume for the draw-and-return methods to improve aPTT ratio accuracy in hemodialysis patients with CVC. Methods: A prospective study was conducted in patients receiving HD via CVC. Four blood samples were collected from each patient, involving a peripheral venipuncture and three draw-and-return samples (10 ml, 20 ml and 25 ml groups). The aPTT ratio of a peripheral sample was used as a reference to determine the aPTT ratio accuracy for each draw-and-return group. Subsequently, the agreement was illustrated using modified Bland-Altman plot. Results: A total of 1,000 samples were obtained from 250 patients. The patients had a mean age of 59.6 ± 15.4 years, with 17.2% using citrate as the CVC's locking agent. The adjusted accuracies of the aPTT ratio varied significantly among the three withdrawal volumes (p-value <0.001). The 25 ml group demonstrated the highest accuracy (43.2%; 95%CI, 38.0-48.4), followed by the 20 ml group (30.0%; 95%CI, 24.9-35.2), and the 10 ml group (18.0%; 95%CI, 12.8-23.2). Additionally, using citrate as a locking agent provided more than 80.0% aPTT ratio accuracy, whereas heparin demonstrated inferior accuracy even in the 25 ml withdrawal group. Conclusion: The optimal blood withdraw volume for the draw-and-return methods concluded at 20 ml for citrate locked-CVC and 25 ml for heparin which significantly improved aPTT ratio accuracies. Applying citrate as a locking agent provides clear benefits for aPTT ratio monitoring, while peripheral venipuncture is recommended in cases of heparin-locked CVC.

An Improvised Cost-Effective Repair Technique for Management of Broken Luer Connections of Tunneled Dialysis Catheter and Salvage Existing Catheter.

Mechanical problems like break or crack in Luer connectors or hubs, clamps, and tubings are common non-infectious complications of tunneled dialysis catheters (TDC), which may lead to other TDC complications and the need to insert a new catheter. These can be tackled using TDC repair kits or spare parts, which are often not available, resulting in the insertion of a new TDC that increases morbidity, TDC-related procedures, and healthcare costs. We discuss two cases of broken Luer connections of TDC, which were managed by exchanging the broken Luer connector of TDC with the similar Luer connector of a temporary dialysis catheter. Both the repaired TDCs are thereafter functioning well. This improvised technique provides an easy, effective, long-lasting option that salvages the existing TDC and reduces the cost factor.

Numerical modelling of the interaction between dialysis catheter, vascular vessel and blood considering elastic structural deformation.

The dialysis catheter indwelling in human bodies has a high risk of inducing thrombus and stenosis. Biomechanical research showed that such physiological complications are triggered by the wall shear stress of the vascular vessel. This study aimed to assess the impact of CVC implantation on central venous haemodynamics and the potential alterations in the haemodynamic environment related to thrombus development. The SVC structure was built from the images from computed tomography. The blood flow was calculated using the Carreau model, and the fluid domain was determined by CFD. The vascular wall and the CVC were computed using FEA. The elastic interaction between the vessel wall and the flow field was considered using FSI simulation. With consideration of the effect of coupling, it was shown that the catheter vibrated in the vascular systems due to the periodic variation of blood pressure, with an amplitude of up to 10% of the vessel width. Spiral flow was observed along the catheter after CVC indwelling, and recirculation flow appeared near the catheter tip. High OSI and WSS regions occurred at the catheter tip and the vascular junction. The arterial lumen tip had a larger effect on the WSS and OSI values on the vascular wall. Considering FSI simulation, the movement of the catheter inside the blood flow was simulated in the deformable vessel. After CVC indwelling, spiral flow and recirculation flow were observed near the regions with high WSS and OSI values.

A case of thoracic central venous obstruction treated by the innominate-to-right-atrial bypass grafting technique under extracorporeal circulation.

A 46-year-old woman with stage 5 chronic kidney disease was unable to undergo hemodialysis treatment due to thoracic central venous obstruction (TCVO) and blockage of the tunneled cuffed catheter. This patient also presented with symptoms of TCVO. When percutaneous procedure was not possible, we resolved the obstruction with the innominate-to-right-atrial bypass grafting technique under extracorporeal circulation. There are few reports on this surgical approach. In terms of patient prognosis, this may be an effective solution to this problem.

Comparison of different peritoneal dialysis catheters on complication and catheter survival: A network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: This network meta-analysis (NMA) aimed to compare the clinical advantage of four commonly used peritoneal dialysis catheters (PDCs) including the Swan neck segment with straight tip (Swan neck + S), Tenckhoff segment with straight tip (Tenckhoff + S), Swan neck segment with coiled tip (Swan neck + C) and Tenckhoff segment with coiled tip (Tenckhoff + C). METHODS: Randomised clinical trials were searched from PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Register of clinical trials, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and ChinaInfo from their inception until July 31, 2022. Meta-analysis was performed using Stata 14.0 and RevMan 5.3.5 software to evaluate the four commonly used PDCs. RESULTS: Seventeen studies involved 1578 participants were included. NMA showed that compared with Swan neck + C, Swan neck + S significantly reduced catheter tip migration (OR 0.47 95% CI 0.22-0.99). Tenckhoff + S was more effective in reducing catheter dysfunction (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.23-0.79), catheter tip migration with dysfunction (OR 0.19, 95% CI 0.05-0.78) and catheter removal (OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.34-0.93) which were consistent with the pairwise meta-analysis. According to the surface under the cumulative ranking curve, Swan neck + S emerged as the best PDC in the reduction of catheter tip migration (83.3%), followed by Tenckhoff + S (79.4%). Moreover, Tenckhoff + S (86.5%, 76.3%) and Swan neck + S (72.3, 86.9%) ranked as the first and second PDC for 1 and 2-year technique survival which was significantly higher than those of the other two PDCs. CONCLUSION: Our NMA showed Swan neck + S and Tenckhoff + S tended to be more efficacious than Swan neck + C and Tenckhoff + C in lowering the mechanical dysfunction and prolonging the technique survival, which may contribute to better clinical decisions. More randomised controlled trials with larger scales and higher quality are needed in order to obtain more credible evidence.

Tunneled dialysis catheter utilization and patency: A retrospectiveprospective study from a tertiary care hospital in Karachi Pakistan.

Objectives: To assess the patency of tunnel dialysis catheters and their results in patients in a tertiary care setting. METHODS: The retrospective-prospective, observational study was conducted at the Department of Interventional Radiology, Liaquat National Hospital, Karachi, from September 2021 to February 2022, and comprised records of patients who underwent tunnel dialysis catheters placement from July 2019 to December 2020. Data regarding age, gender, residence, comorbidity, catheter placement site, use of antibiotics before catheter insertion, reasons for catheter removal, and total catheter days was retrieved from the medical record. Data was analysed using STATA 14. RESULTS: Of the 134 patients, 74(56.9%) were males and 56(43.1) were females. The overall median age was 65 years (interquartile range: 56.75-70.25 years). Catheters were electively removed in 97(72.4%) patients, while in 19(14.2%), 16(11.9%) and 2(1.5%) cases, catheters were removed due to infections, blockage and physical damage, respectively. Mortality due to catheter-related complications was not found. Incidence per 10,000 catheter days of overall infection, bacteraemia and other infections during one year was 8.4, 5.3 and 3.1, respectively. Overall infection-free survival rate was seen for 19 patients (survival rate=67.6%). Survival rate from catheter removal was seen in 36 patients (survival rate=53.2%). CONCLUSIONS: When all precautions were followed to circumvent catheter-related issues, tunnel dialysis catheters were found to be a viable option for haemodialysis until permanent access for dialysis is gained or a kidney transplant is performed.

Alternative dialysis access strategies: A case report of a patient with transrenal hemodialysis catheter due to exhausted traditional routes and review of literature.

Vascular access is the primary lifeline for patients with end-stage renal disease. While arteriovenous fistulas and grafts are the conventionally favored methods for dialysis therapy, certain patients may deplete these traditional vascular access options due to various reasons. In the quest for alternatives, unconventional vascular pathways could be considered, including transhepatic, trans-lumbar and trans-renal approaches. We present a case of a 61-year-old male who exhausted all the traditional vascular access options, therefore trans-renal hemodialysis catheter placement was performed. Overall, this case highlights the challenges of securing a reliable vascular access to perform dialysis therapy and implementing unconventional methods whenever regular means are exhausted.

Dialysis for older adults: why should the targets be different?

The number of patients aged > 75-years treated by dialysis continues to increase, particularly in developed countries. Haemodialysis is a well-established treatment with national and international clinical guidelines designed to provide patients with optimal treatment. However, these were developed when the dialysis population was younger, and less co-morbid. This change in patient demographics questions whether these guideline targets still apply to older patients. More patients now start dialysis with residual kidney function and could benefit from a less frequent dialysis schedule. Older patients have a lower thirst drive, so lower interdialytic gains, reduced appetite, muscle mass and physical activity would potentially allow starting dialysis with less frequent sessions a practical option. Similarly, patients with residual kidney function and lower metabolic activity may not need to meet current dialyser Kt/Vurea clearance targets to remain healthy. Instead, some elderly patients may be at risk of malnutrition and might need liberalisation of the low salt, potassium and phosphate dietary restrictions, or even additional supplements to ensure adequate protein intake. Although a fistula is the preferred vascular access, a forearm fistula may not be an option due to vascular disease, while a brachial fistula can potentially compromise cardiovascular reserve, so a dialysis catheter becomes the de facto access, especially in patients with limited life expectancy. Thus, clinical guideline targets designed for a younger less co-morbid dialysis population may not be equally applicable to the older patient initiating dialysis, and so a more individualised approach to dialysis prescription and vascular access is required.