Initial performance of Tesio hemodialysis catheters

PURPOSE: This retrospective study was performed to investigate the authors' clinical observations that suggest that Tesio hemodialysis catheters may i nitially have suboptimal blood flow rates, which improve spontaneously afte r several hemodialysis treatment sessions, MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty Tesio twin hemodialysis catheters were placed in 49 patients during a a-year period. Thirty twin catheters were placed by radiologists, and 30 were placed by surgeons. The catheter blood flow rate s and catheter line pressures, which were recorded during each of the first five hemodialysis treatment sessions, were reviewed and analyzed to determ ine the performance of each catheter during the first five hemodialysis tre atments. In addition, the authors compared the site of catheter placement a nd responsible service (surgery or radiology) using this catheter performan ce data. RESULTS: Twenty-six catheters (43%) provided adequate blood flow (250 mL/mi n) throughout the first five hemodialysis sessions. Twenty-six catheters (4 3%) had inadequate or variable blood flow rates, some of which improved wit hout intervention, Eight catheters (13%) required an intervention before th e first five hemodialysis sessions had been completed. Right-sided catheter s performed better than left-sided catheters, There was no difference in pe rformance between catheters placed by surgeons and those placed by radiolog ists. CONCLUSION: This investigation supports the authors' suspicion that some Te sio catheters may have inadequate initial performance but the blood flows c an improve, without intervention, during the first five hemodialysis sessio ns/2 weeks of use.