An analysis of potential predictors of tunneled hemodialysis catheter infection or dysfunction

• Published in: The journal of vascular access 2019-07, Vol.20 (4), p.380-385
• Main Authors: Coker, M Austin, Black, J Ryne, Li, Yufeng, Varma, Rakesh, Almehmi, Ammar, Abdel Aal, Ahmed K, Gunn, Andrew J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Catheter Obstruction - etiology; Catheter-Related Infections - diagnosis; Catheter-Related Infections - etiology; Catheter-Related Infections - microbiology; Catheter-Related Infections - therapy; Catheterization, Central Venous - adverse effects; Catheterization, Central Venous - instrumentation; Catheters, Indwelling - adverse effects; Central Venous Catheters - adverse effects; Device Removal; Equipment Failure; Female; Humans; Jugular Veins; Male; Middle Aged; Renal Dialysis; Retrospective Studies; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Sex Factors; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 1129-7298; 1724-6032
• DOI: 10.1177/1129729818809669

Purpose: To assess the ability of various clinical factors to predict infection or dysfunction of tunneled hemodialysis catheters. Methods: A retrospective review of all adult patients who had a tunneled hemodialysis catheter placed between 2012 and 2016 was performed. Tunneled hemodialysis catheters were considered infected based on clinical suspicion or culture-positive bacteremia. Dysfunction was defined as all other non-infectious causes for line failure. Time-to-removal or exchange was recorded. Clinical parameters analyzed as potential predictors of tunneled hemodialysis catheter infection or dysfunction, included the following: age, sex, site of placement, inpatient versus outpatient status at time of placement, body mass index, Charlson Comorbidity Index, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet count, white blood cell count, international normalized ratio, and partial thromboplastin time. Results: A total of 177 patients (95: female, 82: male; 71.7%: African American; mean age: 54.9 years) qualified for inclusion. The internal jugular vein was the site of placement in 97.1% of patients with 79.7% of lines being placed on the right side. One patient (0.5%) had minor bleeding after catheter insertion but no other complications were recorded. A total of 17 patients (9.6%) had lines removed or exchanged due to infection at a median of 86 (range: 13–626) days, while 68 patients (38.4%) had lines removed or exchanged due to dysfunction at a median of 42 (range: 1–531) days. A total of 92 patients (51.9%) had lines removed due to completion of therapy at a median of 68 (range: 7–433) days. Dysfunctional lines had a shorter time-to-removal than successful lines (p = 0.007). No difference was seen in time-to-removal between infected lines and successful lines (p = 0.16). Multivariate analysis showed that female sex (p = 0.003) and left-sided line placement (p = 0.007) were independent predictors of line dysfunction. No evaluated factors were predictive of tunneled hemodialysis catheter infection. Conclusion: Female sex and left-sided line placement were independent predictors of tunneled hemodialysis catheter dysfunction, but none of the evaluated parameters predicted tunneled hemodialysis catheter infection.