The Effect of Residence Time of No-tunneled Hemodialysis Catheters on Infection and Thrombosis Outcome. Identification of CVC’s Time Cut-off

Abstract

Introduction: Permanent vascular access (arteriovenous fistula (AVF), arteriovenous graft (AVG)) is susceptible to acute events that reduce patency. The temporary central venous catheter (CVC) constitutes bridging therapy for primary vascular access dysfunction. The impact of “residence time” on the rate of dysfunction/thrombosis or infection remains to be explored.

AIM: 1) To evaluate the impact of CVC residence time on outcomes (infection or Thrombosis/dysfunction) in consecutive temporary CVCs adjusted for the insertion site (upper site vs. lower site).

2) To establish a cut-off resident time.

Patients and methods: Seventeen prevalent hemodialysis patients with three consecutive CVCs are followed up prospectively in an observational study for a period equivalent to the permanence of the CVCs. The data is recorded at the beginning of the CVC time. The diagnosis of catheter-related bloodstream infection and thrombosis/dysfunction is made following the K-Doqi 2019 guidelines.

Statistical analysis: Seventeen hemodialysis patients (51 CVCs) were included. The ‘CVC resident time’ of each individual patient ((i.e. βcoefficient (log-transformed)*AUC)) was determined using LMM and then inserted into multivariate Cox models to assess infection and dysfunction/thrombosis outcomes (Joint Models). The AUC was calculated at various baseline levels of CVC time (10th……50th percentile). The cut-off point for thrombosis in CVC time corresponds to the mean of the CVC time at the 30th percentile of all CVCs.

Results: The CVC time is different for CVC’s site insertion and sequence. From the analysis of multivariate joint models, CVC resident time appears not to be significant for infection, but heterogenicity for the insertion site (ref3-4=upper site) is significant for the outcome of thrombosis/dysfunction. From the study of survival analysis, the free survival from outcomes by CVC site insertion appears to be significant for thrombosis/dysfunction. The average time of CVCs’ calculation at the 30th percentile is 14 days (cut-off).

Conclusion: No tunneled hemodialysis Catheter (NTHC) residence time is considered not to be a risk factor for infection, but it represents a risk factor for lower access thrombosis. After the cut-off time of 14 days, the advantage of the higher NTHCs is lost.