Use of LifeSite port systems for hemodialysis in Germany

Studies haveshown lower infection rates of port systems compared to established, transcutaneous cuffed-tunneled dialysis catheters. This was shown in otherwise quite healthy patients starting hemodialysis treatment. It is unclear to what extent these results can be applied to countries such as Germany where, unlike the US, central venous access systems are used mainly for patients with a high comorbidity. We investigated complications in patients with exhausted access sites and a high comorbidity.

In a retrospective, representative multicenter study, 34 patients with a high rate of comorbidity were assessed. The age was 67.5 +/- 12.5 years, the median number of failed AV fistulas or AV grafts was 4 (0-18).

The survival rate was 84.9%, 55.2% and 55.2% after 6, 12 and 24 months, respectively. The rate of local and systemic infections was 2.83 per 1,000 patient days. Thrombotic events occurred at a rate of 2.26 per 1,000 patient days. We did not see a statistically significant effect using 0.2% sodium oxychlorosene (n = 13) or 70% isopropyl alcohol solution (n = 21) as the antimicrobial solution used before opening the valve of the port with the dialysis needle.

We showed that complications of hemodialysis treatment using LifeSite vascular access systems in patients with very high co-morbidity in Germany seem to occur less often than those reported for cuffed-tunneled catheters and were not more frequent than those reported for other patient groups using LifeSites in the US. Technical survival rates were encouraging for up to two years. LifeSite port systems might be a good or even better central venous access than cuffed-tunneled catheters for patients in which an AV fistula or -graft is not possible.