[Permanent vascular catheters: Effectiveness and duration of the Ash-Split Cath]

In absence of a permanent and useful native arterio-venous fistula, the use of a tunnelled catheter allows dialysis therapy to be carried out. The Ash Split Cath is a recently introduced chronic hemodialysis catheter. An ASC was inserted in nine patients (7.1% of our prevalent dialysis population), for repeated venous thrombosis in seven patients and a poor venous tree in two. The average blood flow rate was 250 +/- 50 mL/minute and the mean venous pressure measured was 140mm Hg +/- 35. Recirculation determined by low flow technique was less than 5% and 4 months after the catheter placement, calculated Kt/V, was 1.2 +/- 0.02. During the follow up we did not document any infection of the exit site or related to the catheter.