[Central vascular access: rational and results]. / I cateteri venosi centrali modello Tesio: razionale e risultati.

Central venous catheterization for hemodialysis using double cannula has become the preferred central vascular form in acute cases. Moreover, in chronic cases, this form of vascular access has replaced the internal arterio-venous fistula whenever the latter is difficult to realize, or when patient's cardio-circulatory condition would discourage its creation. The central vascular access presents frequent complications, compromising their efficiency and duration. Tesio's central venous catheters were thoroughly studied and manufactured to overcome these complications, allowing a long life span of the vascular access. In this study 108 patients with Tesio's internal jugular central venous catheters were followed-up in the period 1990 to 1994. All patients underwent hemodialysis in Pordenone Center. Central venous access survival fluctuated between 93% and 82% in the first year and the fifth year respectively. However, access survival dropped to 32% after seven years. The accurate choice of the catheters' manufacturing material as well as the correct technical positioning has determined a significant increase in the vascular access survival, thanks to the important decrease in prevalence and seriousness of complications. We believe that the decreased accuracy in catheter management over time is the major cause of delayed loss of the central vascular access.

Roman tunnelling tool.

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to present an instrument that helps to create a subcutaneous path for central catheters used for hemodialysis, as well as a non traumatic internal introduction of Tesio's catheters and other systems (Dacron cap). We have designed a tunneling tool which consists of a solid but light weight hand set, connected to an extension that ends with an olive shape dilator to be connected to a trocar. Thus, precise tunneling is guaranteed through a non traumatic procedure, allowing exact anchorage of catheters.

Double catheterization of the internal jugular vein for hemodialysis: indications, techniques, and clinical results.

Central vascular catheters are used to access the central vascular system in both acute and chronic uremic patients undergoing hemodialysis. Among different approaches, the internal jugular vein seems to have less adverse effects. We describe our long-term experience with a two-catheter system. Percutaneous jugular vein cannulation was performed using Medcomp silicone rubber catheters. The study included 108 patients undergoing hemodialysis. One- and 2-year survival was 93 and 91%, respectively; 36 died because of unrelated causes. Blood flow rate was 284 mL/min; venous pressure at 1 year was 90 mm Hg. Complications included accidental withdrawal (6), dysfunction (4), catheter clotting (11), mediastinal hematoma (2), pneumothorax (1), and sepsis (7). Good long-term survival and a low complication rate make this system a safe and reliable method of access for long-term hemodialysis.

Does continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis induce hypercholesterolemia?

Hypercholesterolemia has been recognized as a significant risk factor for atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of hypercholesterolemia and the role, if any, of type of dialysis. In 19 hemodialysis (HD) and 20 continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) subjects, body weight, body mass index (BMI), arm muscle area (AMA), total cholesterol (C), HDL and LDL fractions, triglycerides, C/HDL ratio, glycosylated hemoglobin, and apolipoproteins AI, AII, B, CII, CIII, and E were evaluated. Hypercholesterolemia was defined as cholesterol greater than 220 mg/dL and LDL greater than 150 mg/dL. Body weight, body mass index, and arm muscle area were higher (p < 0.05) in CAPD as compared with HD; so were total cholesterol, LDL, C/HDL ratio, and glycosylated hemoglobin (Hbalc). Hypercholesterolemia prevalence was 3/19 in HD and 11/20 in CAPD (p < 0.05). A relationship between Hbalc and C/HDL ratio was found in the CAPD group (r = 0.48; p < 0.05). We are greatly concerned about these metabolic effects of CAPD; therefore, we should carefully select patients to be treated by CAPD. Aggressive nutritional and pharmacological treatment for glucose intolerance and hypercholesterolemia in CAPD patients must be performed in order to reduce the incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD).

Dialysis for the elderly: survival and risk factors.

We evaluated survival and risk factors in 86 elderly patients (pts) who underwent dialysis at one center throughout the last 10 years. Thirty-five pts received hemodialysis (HD), 32 intermittent peritoneal dialysis (IPD), and 19 continuous peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Risk factors included: treatment, age, sex, underlying disease, heart failure (HF), peripheral vascular disease (PVD), diabetes mellitus (DM) and malignancy. Median age was 65 years for both HD and CAPD, and 69 for IPD (p less than 0.05). Survival evaluation demonstrated a longer life span for HD vs. IPD (p = 0.02) for CAPD vs. IPD (p = 0.03) and no difference between HD and CAPD pts. Cox analysis showed higher death odds ratio (OR = 2.4) for IPD vs. HD and lower ratio for CAPD vs. IPD (OR = 0.3). Other OR positive risk factors were: HF, PVD, DM and malignancy. The median value of risk factors for each group was higher for both IPD and CAPD vs. HD. Both life span and death OR for CAPD were equal to HD in spite of higher risk factors in CAPD group. The lower survival of the IPD group may be due to its older age. CAPD should represent the elective treatment for elderly uremics while HD or IPD should be reserved for selected patients.