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A single institutional experience of conversion of non-tunneled to tunneled hemodialysis catheters: a comparison to de novo placement

International Urology and Nephrology volume 45, pages 1753–1759 (2013)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

To compare the outcomes of conversion of non-tunneled to tunneled hemodialysis catheters with de novo placement of tunneled catheters and to determine the effect of time to conversion of non-tunneled to tunneled catheters on the incidence of complications.

Materials and methods

A retrospective data analyses was performed on 1,154 patients who had de novo placement of tunneled hemodialysis catheters (control group) and 254 patients who underwent conversion of non-tunneled to tunneled catheters (study group). The outcomes including technical complications, infection, and catheter dysfunction were compared between the two groups.

Results

The technical success rate was 100 % in both the groups with no complications recorded at the time of procedure or within 24 h of insertion. The most common complication encountered in both the groups was catheter dysfunction (15.6 % in controls and 18.1 % in study). Infection rates/100 catheter days for the control and study groups were 0.17 and 0.19, respectively. Infection-free survival was not statistically different between the two groups. The time spent with non-tunneled catheter prior to conversion did not significantly alter the rates of catheter dysfunction and infection in the study group.

Conclusion

The efficacy and safety of conversion of non-tunneled to tunneled hemodialysis catheters are similar to de novo placement with no difference in the rates of technical success, catheter dysfunction, or infection. However, the exchange of non-tunneled to tunneled catheter can help in preservation of veins for future vascular access, which is of vital importance in patients with chronic renal disease.

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Conflict of interest

None of the other authors, including myself, have any conflicts of interest to disclose.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Interventional Radiology, William Beaumont Hospital, 3601, W 13 Mile Road, Royal Oak, MI, 48073, USA

    Sunil Kumar Bajaj, Joseph Ciacci, Matthias Kirsch & John D. Ebersole

Authors
  1. Sunil Kumar Bajaj
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  2. Joseph Ciacci
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  3. Matthias Kirsch
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  4. John D. Ebersole
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Correspondence to Sunil Kumar Bajaj.

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Bajaj, S.K., Ciacci, J., Kirsch, M. et al. A single institutional experience of conversion of non-tunneled to tunneled hemodialysis catheters: a comparison to de novo placement. Int Urol Nephrol 45, 1753–1759 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11255-013-0508-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11255-013-0508-x

Keywords

  • Hemodialysis
  • Catheter
  • Tunneled catheter
  • Non-tunneled catheter