TuLIP (Tunnelled Line Intraluminal Plasty): An Alternative Technique for Salvaging Haemodialysis Catheter Patency in Fibrin Sheath Formation

[Catheter Replacement Methods in Hemodialysis Patients With Dysfunctional Tunneled-Cuffed Catheters With Fibrin Sheaths]

Objective

Tunneled-cuffed catheters (TCCs) are frequently used for establishing hemodialysis access for maintenance hemodialysis in older patients with exhausted resources of peripheral vessels. Fibrin sheath formation around the catheter is one of the most common complications of long-term use of indwelling catheter, which may cause the malfunction of the catheter. In this study, we intend to compare the prognosis of two catheter replacement methods, in situ replacement and replacement through a fibrin sheath crevice, with both being assisted by balloon dilation, and to explore the optimal catheter replacement process.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted with 52 patients who underwent a replacement of their TCCs. Among them, 27 cases had their TCC replaced by the modified method of replacement through a fibrin sheath crevice and were referred to as the sheath crevice group, while 25 cases underwent in situ catheter replacement and were referred to as the in situ group. The primary outcome indicators included maximum blood flow in hemodialysis catheter and the urea clearance rate calculated by Kt/V values at the 1, 3, and 6-month follow-ups. The secondary outcomes included dialyzer alarms being set off and catheter-related infections during follow-up.

Results

There was no significant difference between the general data of the two groups. There was no massive blood loss during the replacement procedure. Neither were there cardiac tamponade, catheter-associated infections, or other complications. Follow-ups were made 1, 3, and 6 months after the replacement procedure. The sheath crevice group had higher catheter blood flow and Kt/V values at the 6-month follow-up than the in situ group did ([241.85±9.62] mL/min vs. [234.40±11.21] mL/min, P=0.014 and 1.31±0.55 vs. 1.27±0.49, P=0.005, respectively). During the follow-up process, access alarms were reported in 5 patients (three in the in situ group and two in the sheath crevice group) during dialysis. No catheter-associated infection occurred in either group.

Conclusion

The catheter replacement method of balloon dilation-assisted catheter insertion through a fibrin sheath crevice is safe and effective, resulting in better long-term catheter blood flow compared with that of in situ catheter replacement.

Intraluminal catheter plasty. An alternative technique to remove tethered abdominal surgical drains

Objective

Retained surgical drains can lead to significant complications including gastrointestinal fistulae, abscess formation and intestinal obstruction. Today, there is little in the literature describing the role of Interventional Radiology (IR) in assisting the removal of surgical drains. We describe the use of the well-established intraluminal catheter plasty technique, previously used for the removal of adhered central venous catheters, in order to remove a tethered abdominal drain.

Methods and materials

A 67-year-old female was referred to the IR department for the removal of a 24 Fr Robinson's intra-abdominal surgical drain that could not be removed by conventional methods, as there was a concern that it was kinked internally. Both fluoroscopy and cone beam CT were performed, which identified the drain to be sited within the pelvis with no kinks.A first attempt to remove the drain over a 0.035 stiff wire was unsuccessful due to resistance and patient discomfort. We suspected that this was due to adhesions surrounding the drain. Consequently, a 9 × 40 mm angioplasty balloon was used over the wire with serial dilatations along the drain to disrupt the adhesions. Several areas of waisting were identified. The drain was gently withdrawn over the wire with minimal resistance. Ex-vivo inspection of the drain showed no evidence of structural damage and fluoroscopic imaging confirmed no retained fragments.

Conclusion

We describe a safe and effective novel technique of intraluminal catheter plasty used to remove a tethered surgical drain following failed conventional methods.

Fused Deposition Modelling as a Potential Tool for Antimicrobial Dialysis Catheters Manufacturing: New Trends vs. Conventional Approaches

The rising rate of individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and ineffective treatment methods for catheter-associated infections in dialysis patients has led to the need for a novel approach to the manufacturing of catheters. The current process requires moulding, which is time consuming, and coated catheters used currently increase the risk of bacterial resistance, toxicity, and added expense. Three-dimensional (3D) printing has gained a lot of attention in recent years and offers the opportunity to rapidly manufacture catheters, matched to patients through imaging and at a lower cost. Fused deposition modelling (FDM) in particular allows thermoplastic polymers to be printed into the desired devices from a model made using computer aided design (CAD). Limitations to FDM include the small range of thermoplastic polymers that are compatible with this form of printing and the high degradation temperature required for drugs to be extruded with the polymer. Hot-melt extrusion (HME) allows the potential for antimicrobial drugs to be added to the polymer to create catheters with antimicrobial activity, therefore being able to overcome the issue of increased rates of infection. This review will cover the area of dialysis and catheter-related infections, current manufacturing processes of catheters and methods to prevent infection, limitations of current processes of catheter manufacture, future directions into the manufacture of catheters, and how drugs can be incorporated into the polymers to help prevent infection.