Fatal hemothorax caused by a subclavian hemodialysis catheter. Thoughts on prevention.

A 19-year-old woman died when a subclavian catheter that had provided vascular access for plasmapheresis penetrated her right atrium, pericardium, and parietal pleural, causing a hemothorax. Precautions are recommended to minimize the risk of this complication in patients in whom subclavian catheters are used as a vascular access route for hemodialysis or plasmapheresis.

Mediastinal haematoma caused by subclavian catheterisation for haemodialysis.

A 59 year old woman developed a mediastinal haematoma after placement of a subclavian haemodialysis catheter. Vascular perforation by the guide wire used during catheterisation was the probable cause. The use of guide wires with a flexible J-shaped terminal portion is recommended to minimise this risk.

Long term survival on haemodialysis in primary hyperoxaluria.

Results of treatment of end-stage renal failure (ESRF) in patients with primary hyperoxaluria have been generally poor, largely due to the inability of any treatment regime to match the endogenous overproduction of oxalate. The severity of the disease varies widely, as reflected by the differences in age at onset of ESRF. This variability may influence the results of treatment of ESRF in these patients. The longest reported survival on haemodialysis of a patient with primary hyperoxaluria is eight and a half years. We report a patient who survived for eleven years on haemodialysis after reaching ESRF due to primary hyperoxaluria, and suggest that this prolonged survival was due to relatively mild disease severity rather than exceptional treatment.

End-stage renal failure due to multiple myeloma--poor survival on peritoneal dialysis.

This report describes five subjects with end-stage renal failure due to multiple myeloma. All of the patients died within seven months of commencing chronic peritoneal dialysis. Complications were frequent during the dialysis period. Our experience supports the opinion that patients with multiple myeloma and a high tumour cell mass should not be offered dialysis.

Dual lumen subclavian catheters for haemodialysis.

The dual lumen catheter has recently been developed as a subclavian vascular access device for haemodialysis. This paper describes our preliminary experience with two currently available catheters of this design: the Shiley Dual Lumen Catheter, and the Quinton-Mahurkar Dual Lumen Catheter. The performance of both catheters, characterised by high blood flow rate capabilities, low venous resistances and minimal recirculation, is superior to that of other types of subclavian haemodialysis cannula.

Is decreased treatment time in hemodialysis patients harmful if solute clearance is maintained?

An association between decreased duration of hemodialysis and increased morbidity and mortality in patients has been suggested. Whether this is due only to decreased solute clearance is unclear. In this prospective randomised study the effect of reducing treatment time whilst maintaining constant solute clearance was examined in fourteen patients. The study lasted for a period of 36 weeks (3x12 week study periods) and used a crossover design. The patients dialysis prescription (KW) was not changed on entering the study and was maintained during short (150 minutes) and long dialysis (240 minutes) by varying blood flow, dialysate flow and dialyzer surface area. The delivered KW was kinetically assessed. Fractional urea clearance was also measured during each treatment period by measurement of urea concentration in spent dialysate and total body water using 3H2O. At the end of each treatment period a full biochemical and hematological profile, nutritional intake and status, 24 h ambulatory blood pressure, nerve conduction studies, and quality of life questionnaire were performed. Within patients the delivered single pool KW was uniform throughout the 3 treatment periods and fractional urea clearance did not vary. However, Kt/W assessed using equilibrated models (Daugardis and Smye) was significantly lower in the short dialysis period. No differences between short and long dialysis sessions were noted in any of the measured variables. Thus, over a 36 week period there is no evidence to suggest that hemodialysis patients are adversely affected by decreased duration of treatment provided that solute clearance is maintained.

Renal replacement treatment for diabetic patients in Newcastle upon Tyne and the Northern region, 1964-88.

OBJECTIVES: To review the experience of renal replacement treatment in diabetic patients treated in Newcastle upon Tyne and the Northern region from 1964 to 1988, and to compare the morbidity and mortality of diabetic patients treated with dialysis or transplantation with those of matched controls of non-diabetic patients. DESIGN: Retrospective study of clinical case notes. SETTING: Renal units of the Northern region, particularly that in Newcastle upon Tyne. PATIENTS: All 65 diabetic patients treated by renal replacement treatment in Newcastle upon Tyne from 1964 to 1987; 42 diabetic patients were matched with 42 non-diabetic patients according to age, sex, year of starting treatment, and type of treatment (dialysis or transplantation). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Sex, age, renal biopsy findings, blood pressure, history of diabetic treatment, and plasma creatinine concentration at the start of renal replacement treatment. History of renal replacement treatments, suitability for transplantation, history of transplantation, cumulative survival, and cause of death during follow up. Survival of technique, cumulative survival of the first peritoneal catheter and history of peritonitis in patients treated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis; source of graft, histocompatibility antigens, duration of associated stay in hospital, and graft survival in patients receiving renal or pancreatic transplant. RESULTS: 1259 Patients with chronic renal failure were accepted for renal replacement treatment in Newcastle upon Tyne, of whom 65 (5%) had diabetes. The first was accepted in 1974, and between 1974 and 1980 another 15 were treated (mean age 42 years; 4% of new patients). From 1981 to 1987, 49 diabetic patients (mean age 44; 9% of new patients) were treated. Fifty patients (77%) had insulin dependent diabetes and the remaining 15 (23%) non-insulin dependent diabetes. On average, the patients were aged 25 (range 5-57) when diabetes was first diagnosed and 44 (range 24-70) at the start of renal replacement treatment. The mean age at the start of treatment was 40 for patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes and 58 for patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes. Transplantation was performed in 33 of the diabetic patients, whose mean age was lower than that of those who did not receive a transplant (41 v 48 respectively, p less than 0.05). Comparison between the 42 diabetic patients and matched controls showed that the overall survival at five years was 46% and 77% respectively. The three year survival of the diabetic patients who did not receive a transplant was poor (41% v 79% respectively). Of patients transplanted, survival at five years was 73% in the diabetic patients and 90% in the controls. However, there was no significant difference in the five year graft survival (64% v 46% respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes adversely affects morbidity and mortality in patients having renal replacement treatment, but renal transplantation seems to be the best option for treating diabetic patients with end stage renal failure.

End-stage renal failure after donor nephrectomy.

A 52-year-old man, who had undergone donor nephrectomy 14 years previously, recently developed end-stage renal failure himself. The recipient of the donated kidney still has normal renal function associated with marked proteinuria. This deterioration of kidney function emphasizes the need for meticulous pre-operative evaluation of potential kidney donors and for the long-term post-operative follow-up of the donor as well as the recipient.

Temporary vascular access in British hemodialysis units.

A questionnaire, designed to determine the current habits of British nephrologists regarding temporary vascular access for hemodialysis, was sent to 62 renal units. Forty-six (74%) completed questionnaires were returned. Cannulation of the subclavian vein with a single-lumen catheter is the most popular technique. There is only limited use of double- or dual-lumen catheters in the United Kingdom. Previously unreported fatal complications of subclavian hemodialysis catheters are described.

The high morbidity of CAPD fungal peritonitis--description of 10 cases and review of treatment strategies.

Fungal infection is an uncommon cause of peritonitis in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). This report describes the clinical and microbiological features of 10 cases of fungal peritonitis. Although all patients survived, morbidity was high. Abscess and adhesion formation were particular problems. Only two patients were able to return to CAPD after microbiological cure. Currently available treatment strategies for fungal peritonitis are reviewed.

Long-term follow-up of kidney donors: a longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: Kidney donors are not adversely affected by compensatory hyperfiltration of the remaining kidney in the early years after nephrectomy, but longterm longitudinal studies are lacking. METHODS: The renal function and blood pressure of 75 donors was evaluated in 1984, 1.4-20.7 years after surgery. Forty-seven of the original cohort (23 male, age 38-80 years) underwent repeat study a decade later (12-31 years post-nephrectomy), using identical laboratory techniques. RESULTS: Glomerular filtration rates (GFR) as measured by 51Cr EDTA clearance was relatively unchanged a decade later with 41 of 47 subjects (87%) having EDTA clearance within the normal laboratory reference range at review. The change in GFR in the remaining six subjects was statistically not significant. No correlation between GFR and time after nephrectomy was detected. Albumin excretion rate (AER), on timed overnight urine collections, was increased (> 20 micrograms/min) in 16 subjects (34%), although 14 of these individuals were also hypertensive. The prevalence of hypertension was significantly increased compared with age/sex matched data from epidemiological studies of the general population (both in the UK and the US), especially in those over the age of 55 years. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that the function of the solitary kidney is not adversely affected by prolonged compensatory hyperfiltration, although there appears to be an increased prevalence of microalbuminuria and hypertension. Regular follow-up of kidney donors is recommended in order to manage their complications effectively and to detect hypertension and or renal impairment early in those who may develop it.

Renal functional reserve in kidney donors.

The glomerular filtration rates of 28 subjects, who had undergone donor nephrectomy up to 22 years previously, were measured before and after ingestion of an 80 g protein meal. A renal functional reserve was demonstrated in all cases. There was no evidence of loss of this reserve with time after nephrectomy. This study supports the view that long-term compensatory hyperfiltration of the remaining kidney after donor nephrectomy is not damaging, at least over this time scale.

Successful treatment with trisodium phosphonoformate for primary cytomegalovirus infection after heart transplantation.

Primary cytomegalovirus infection in the patient who is receiving immunosuppression therapy is associated with a high morbidity and mortality. We report a patient who developed primary cytomegalovirus infection 37 days after heart transplantation with a rapidly deteriorating course. Treatment with the new antiviral drug trisodium phosphonoformate (Foscarnet-Astra) was initiated as a lifesaving measure with rapid, dramatic improvement in the patient's condition and subsequent recovery.

Urinary enzyme excretion after donor nephrectomy.

A number of recent studies of long-term kidney donors have reviewed glomerular function and blood pressure. Little attention has been paid to the potentially damaging effects of compensatory hyperfiltration on renal tubular cells after donor nephrectomy. The urinary excretion of high-molecular-weight enzymes is a sensitive indicator of renal tubular cell damage. This study compares the urinary excretion of four enzymes (alanine aminopeptidase, alkaline phosphatase, N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase, and lactate dehydrogenase) in a group of 77 subjects who had undergone unilateral nephrectomy up to 21 years previously with 52 healthy non-nephrectomized controls. The urinary excretion for all four enzymes by the remaining kidney after contralateral nephrectomy in the kidney donors was significantly greater than the enzyme excretion per single kidney in the control group (p less than 0.001). No correlation was found between the degree of enzymuria and either glomerular filtration rate or time since nephrectomy. The elevated activity of urinary enzymes in kidney donors may be related to increased metabolism by the renal tubular cells after contralateral nephrectomy. This study suggests that long-term compensatory hyperfiltration does not damage tubular cells, at least over this time scale.

Renal function and blood pressure after donor nephrectomy.

Pre- and post-nephrectomy renal function and blood pressure were compared in 75 subjects who had donated a kidney for transplantation during the past 20 years. The function of the remaining kidney was not adversely affected by prolonged compensatory hyperfiltration. However, an increased prevalence of hypertension was found in 'long-term' kidney donors.

Compensatory renal hypertrophy after donor nephrectomy.

Renal length was measured radiographically in 65 living kidney donors, aged 27-69 years, who had undergone unilateral nephrectomy during the past 20 years. In 34 of these subjects, pre- and post-operative kidney length, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and blood pressure were available for analysis. Male donors developed greater compensatory hypertrophy than female donors. The extent of renal enlargement correlated negatively with the age of the subject at the time of nephrectomy and with the current mean arterial blood pressure. However, no correlation was found between the percentage change in renal length and either GFR or time since nephrectomy.