UNLABELLED The aim of the study was to report a novel technique of forced implantation of catheters for hemodialysis into critically stenosed or occluded central veins, without preceding angioplasty or stenting. MATERIAL AND METHODS Sixteen patients with central venous occlusive disease, requiring urgent hemodialysis underwent this procedure. Catheterization of stenosis - occlusion was initia...

A successful functioning vascular access is the “lifeline” for a hemodialysis patient. Hemodialysis vascular access dysfunction is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in hemodialysis patients1-3. Improving vascular access outcomes remains an ongoing challenge for nephrologists, vascular access surgeons, and interventionists. In arteriovenous fistulas (AVF) and grafts (AVG), the most common...

Infections cause significant morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing hemodialysis. Bloodstream infections (BSIs) are particularly problematic, accounting for a substantial number of hospitalizations in these patients. Hospitalizations for BSI and other vascular access infections appear to have increased dramatically in hemodialysis patients since 1993. These infections frequently are rel...

BACKGROUND Little is known about vascular access conversion and outcomes for patients starting hemodialysis with nonfunctional arteriovenous (AV) access. We assessed mortality risk associated with nonfunctional AV access at hemodialysis initiation, taking subsequent changes in vascular access into account. METHODS We studied the 53,092 incident adult hemodialysis patients included in the Fren...

Title: Incidence of catheter-related complications in patients with central venous or hemodialysis catheters: a health care claims database analysis Thank you for providing your assessment on our manuscript, "Incidence of catheter-related complications in patients with central venous or hemodialysis catheters: a health care claims database analysis". We are pleased that you highlight the potent...

To the Editor: Patients who receive long-term hemodialysis are at great risk for infection (1,2), especially bacteremia, which may lead to devastating outcomes (3). Environmental bacteria are commonly recovered from dialysis fl uid, but their contribution to infection is less evident (4). We report a bacteremic episode caused by an unusual soil bacterium, Dyella ja-ponica. The patient was a 69-...

Hemodialysis patients have greater morbidity and mortality when they have a catheter rather than an arteriovenous fistula access. Catheter infection plays a significant role in this effect. Inflammation associated with dialysis catheter use could have an independent adverse effect on patient outcomes. Awareness and further study of the role of inflammation are needed.

Catheter-related bloodstream infections, exit-site infections, and tunnel infections are common complications related to hemodialysis central venous catheter use. The various definitions of catheter-related infections are reviewed, and various preventive strategies are discussed. Treatment options, for both empiric and definitive infections, including antibiotic locks and systemic antibiotics, ...

Catheter-related sepsis Extraluminal catheter thrombosis Fraxiparin Hemodialysis M Pilar Ruiz-Valverde, MD, Nephrology Unit, Hospital General ‘Vail d’Hebron’, Paseo Vail d’Hebron, s/n, E-08035 Barcelona (Spain) Introduction The main complications associated with the use of central venous catheters for hemodialysis are infections and thrombosis [1-3]. Both may be the reason for undesired cathete...