Success and access failure with the Demers atrial catheter in haemodialysis

Between January 1995 and January 1999 54 Demers atrial catheters were impla nted in 48 uraemic patients. Indications for implantation were. urgent need for haemodialysis with missing vascular access (39), fistula occlusion (7) , low shunt flow (3) and problems with a previously implanted catheter (5). We observed 7 catheter infections, 5 catheter occlusions, 1 intraoperative air embolism, 3 haematomas and 1 dacron socket dislocation. The average pe riod of use of an atrial catheter was 170 days, the longest period almost 2 years. The majority of catheters were explanted without any dysfunction. T he long time of availability makes Demers atrial catheters an alternative t o fistula for multi-morbid patients on dialysis with poor long-term surviva l.