Initial performance of Tesio hemodialysis catheters

This retrospective study was performed to investigate the authors' clinical observations that suggest that Tesio hemodialysis catheters may initially have suboptimal blood flow rates, which improve spontaneously after several hemodialysis treatment sessions.

Sixty Tesio twin hemodialysis catheters were placed in 49 patients during a 2-year period. Thirty twin catheters were placed by radiologists, and 30 were placed by surgeons. The catheter blood flow rates and catheter line pressures, which were recorded during each of the first five hemodialysis treatment sessions, were reviewed and analyzed to determine the performance of each catheter during the first five hemodialysis treatments. In addition, the authors compared the site of catheter placement and responsible service (surgery or radiology) using this catheter performance data.

Twenty-six catheters (43%) provided adequate blood flow (250 mL/min) throughout the first five hemodialysis sessions. Twenty-six catheters (43%) had inadequate or variable blood flow rates, some of which improved without intervention. Eight catheters (13%) required an intervention before the first five hemodialysis sessions had been completed. Right-sided catheters performed better than left-sided catheters. There was no difference in performance between catheters placed by surgeons and those placed by radiologists.

This investigation supports the authors' suspicion that some Tesio catheters may have inadequate initial performance but the blood flows can improve, without intervention, during the first five hemodialysis sessions/2 weeks of use.