Blood recirculation in malfunctioning catheters for haemodialysis.
Venous catheters are increasingly used for chronic haemodialysis, with dual lumen catheters being the most commonly used as blood recirculation (REC%) is relatively low. The aim of this study was therefore to evaluate blood recirculation in dual lumen catheters, both well-functioning and malfunctioning, with reversed lumens. In our study, blood recirculation in well-functioning catheters with standard lumens is similar to that found in previous studies. However, when lumens are reversed, blood recirculation increases significantly (6.7 +/- 4 vs 19 +/- 11%, p < 0.001). REC% in malfunctioning catheters (10.8 +/- 2%) was higher than normal function (p < 0.05) but lower than reversed flow in normal catheters (p < 0.01). Therefore, inadvertent reversal of lumens in a well-functioning catheter increases REC% in a significant manner, thus worsening haemodialysis efficiency. We conclude that, in inflow failure catheters, lumens can be reversed because REC% is acceptable. However, inadvertent reversal of lumens in a well-functioning catheter increases REC% to a level which may compromise the adequacy of haemodialysis.
Crespo
R
R
Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Córdoba, Spain.
Rivero
M F
MF
Contreras
M D
MD
Martínez
A
A
Labrador
A
A
Jurado
M J
MJ
Casas
R
R
D001775:Blood Circulation; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004867:Equipment Design; D004868:Equipment Failure; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000295:instrumentation*