ASN's Mission

To create a world without kidney diseases, the ASN Alliance for Kidney Health elevates care by educating and informing, driving breakthroughs and innovation, and advocating for policies that create transformative changes in kidney medicine throughout the world.

learn more

Contact ASN

1401 H St, NW, Ste 900, Washington, DC 20005

email@asn-online.org

202-640-4660

The Latest on X

Kidney Week

Abstract: FR-PO759

Incidence and Risk Factors for Central Venous Stenosis in Haemodialysis Patients

Session Information

Category: Dialysis

  • 603 Hemodialysis: Vascular Access

Authors

  • Adwaney, Anamika, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
  • Duncan, Neill D., Imperial College Renal and Transplant Centre, London, lONDON, United Kingdom
  • Ashby, Damien, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
Background

Central venous catheters have traditionally provided haemodialysis access when a fistula is declined or not achieved, but are increasingly advocated as an acceptable option for older or more comorbid patients. Adverse effects of this type of dialysis access include central vein stenosis (CVS), which can lead to significant morbidity including access dysfunction or failure. The pathogenesis and risk factors for CVS are incompletely understood.

Methods

All patients starting haemodialysis in a single centre between December 2005 and February 2015 were prospectively identified. From this cohort, a random sample of patient records were retrospectively analysed for the presence of CVS, defined by cross-sectional or angiographic imaging.

Results

Out of 300 patients (aged 19 - 91, 64.7% male) followed for up to 10 years, CVS developed in 23 (7.67%). All CVS patients had a history of tunneled dialysis catheter use.

Compared to those unaffected, patients with CVS had a larger number of previous catheters (2.3 vs 1.2, p<0.001) but not a greater duration of previous catheter use (28.7 vs 32.1 months). Non-dialysis risk factors, more frequent in patients with CVS, included pacemakers (13.0 vs 2.2%, p=0.024) and prior intensive care admission (56.5 vs 11.9%, p<0.001).

There was no significant effect of ethnicity, but in older patients (over 70 at dialysis initiation, 35.0% of the group) the development of CVS was much less common (2.9 vs 10.3%, p=0.023).

Conclusion

In haemodialysis patients with prior tunneled catheter use, a significant minority may develop CVS, with the number of catheters, rather than catheter duration, being the primary risk factor, though non-dialysis risk factors are also important. The finding that patients over 70 at dialysis initiation are less likely to develop CVS, supports the selective use of tunneled catheters in some older patients.