#2491 Survival outcome of tunneled and non-tunneled hemodialysis catheters in incident hemodialysis requiring patients: a short term study
Authors: Mahapatra Himansu , Krishnan Chandra , Pursnani Lalit , B Muthukumar , Binoy Renju 
Published: May 2024

Background and Aims

For long term hemodialysis, tunnel catheters are preferred over non –tunneled as vascular access. High cost and expertise in its catheterization are major limitations. It is unclear about the advantage of low cost non- tunneled catheter preference over costly tunnel catheters as short term access while awaiting AVF maturation.

Method

All consented incident End Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD) patients requiring hemodialysis from March’ 2021 to October’ 2023 were included. Less than 18 years of age, opting for peritoneal dialysis and patients initiating hemodialysis with AVF or AV Graft were excluded from the study. Subjects were randomized in two catheter groups (Tunneled and Non-tunneled). Under aseptic precautions, all catheters were inserted by ultrasound and C-arm guided following standard protocol. Mechanical, infective and catheter survival outcomes were recorded during dialysis initiation, at 2nd, 6th and 12th weeks. Blood culture samples were sent for those patients who were having fever with chills during dialysis. If the blood culture comes out to be positive for organism, all were treated for one week intravenous antibiotic depending upon the sensitivity or as per standard protocol. Catheter salvage in both the groups was tried till 6 weeks or till AVF maturation. If in any case, AVF is not matured, we continued dialysis with the same catheter. New catheter was inserted if patient do not respond antibiotics after one week of therapy, mechanical complications or due to inadequate flow. Adequacy of the dialysis and overall outcome of patients were monitored in both the groups of catheter. All demography data and survival analysis were analyzed.

Results

A total 133 patients were randomized into Tunneled-65 (48.87%) and non-tunneled-68 (51.12%). Average patient's age of tunneled and non-tunneled was 45.15 ± 15.89 and 40.39 ± 12.21 respectively. A total of 50 (37.3%) were males in tunneled and 54 (40.3%) males in non tunneled groups. A total 65 (54.2%) patients were complained fever with chills during dialysis, of them 31 (25.8%) in tunneled and 34 (28.3%) in non-tunneled group. Among the CRBSI group a total 3 catheters were removed in non-tunneled group whereas all patients in tunneled group were responded to antibiotic. There were total of 24 (18.2%) infections were reported and labelled as CRBSI. Of them 9 (6.7%) in tunneled and 15 (11.2%) in non-tunneled. Most common organism was Klebsiella and Coagulase negative Staphylococcus (Cons) in both the groups. There was only one mechanical complication in case of non- tunneled catheter. The estimated days for catheter survival is 66 for tunneled and 57 for non tunneled (p-0.001). However, in case of non tunneled catheter, 15 cases were reported in which two times catheter were inserted. A total of 14 (10.5%) patients were lost to follow up 8 (6%) in tunneled and 6 (4.5%) in non- tunneled. A total of 9 (5.8%) patients died, 5 (3.8%) in tunneled and 4 (3%) in non- tunneled within 12 weeks.

Conclusion

Although tunneled catheter showed longer catheter survival period, low cost and easy cannulation procedure in non-tunneled hemodialysis catheter is a better viable option for all incident ESKD patients while waiting for AVF maturation.