OBJECTIVE: Tunneled hemodialysis catheters (caths) often fail as a result of luminal obstructive thrombus or formation of a fibrin sheath at the tip. Anecdotal and non-randomized studies have indicated that @entity117 (A) and/or @entity1229 (W) can prolong cath patency. We examined the effect of chronic usage of either A or W on primary cath patency. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective cross-sectional monitoring of cath patency was conducted over a 3-year period. @entity1 were grouped according to their long-term usage of either A (325 mg daily) or W. @entity1 on neither medication served as a control (C). The end point of the study occurred at cannulation of the @entity1 ' arteriovenous fistulae, when there was development of cath-related @entity2259 or when there was inability to maintain a blood flow of 250 ml/min. RESULTS: Sixty-three @entity1 with a mean age of 57 +/- 15 years completed the study. There were 21 @entity1 in the A group, 11 in the W group and 31 in the C group. Cath survival was 91%, 73% and 29% at 120 days for the A, W and C groups, respectively (A vs C, p < 0.0001; W vs C, p < 0.0001; A vs W, p = NS). The mean durations of cath patency were 114 +/- 18, 111 +/- 17 and 68 +/- 37 days for the A, W and C groups, respectively (A vs C, p < 0.0001; W vs C, p < 0.0001; A vs W, p = NS). Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding complication rates were 24%, 18% and 0% for the A, W and C groups, respectively (A vs C, p = 0.02; W vs C, p = 0.02; A vs W, p = NS). The relative risk of @entity360 associated with @entity117 was 0.71 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.11-4.4, p = 0.7] but among elderly @entity117 users it was 1.14 (CI 1.0-1.3, p = 0.008). CONCLUSION: Both @entity117 and @entity1229 are equally effective at prolonging cath patency but their routine use for failing caths cannot be unequivocally recommended because of the increased risk of @entity360 . Further prospective and randomized studies are called for.

Maintaining patency of tunneled hemodialysis catheters--efficacy of XXXX compared to @entity1229 .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['Patients', 'patients'] @entity117 :: ('MESH:D001241', 'Chemical') :: ['aspirin'] @entity360 :: ('MESH:D006471', 'Disease') :: ['GI bleeding'] @entity1229 :: ('MESH:D014859', 'Chemical') :: ['warfarin'] @entity2259 :: ('MESH:D016470', 'Disease') :: ['bacteremia']
@entity117 :: (MESH:D001241,Chemical) :: ['aspirin']
