DOUBLE LUMEN CATHETERS

RECIRCULATION IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING HEMODIALYSIS

Abstract

Objective: To measure recirculation by Urea based Method in double lumen catheters in patients undergoing hemodialysis. Design: Cross sectional study. Place and duration of study: Hemodialysis unit of Nephrology department of Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore, and Quaid- i-Azam Medical College Bahawalpur for period of eight months from October 2007 to May 2008. Patients and methods: Total 125 adult patients selected with Non probability purposive sampling technique in which hemodialysis were done through double lumen catheter, were studied for recirculation. Access recirculation by urea based method with three sample technique was calculated from following formula; Percentage Recirculation= Systemic (S) – Arterial (A)/ systemic – Venous (V) x 100. Results: Out of 125 patients 53 (42%) were males, whereas 72 (58%) were females. Their mean age was 43.4 ± 15.7 years. Percentage recirculation by urea based method was 10.3± 6.64 with range from 3.6 to 24.8. Conclusions: Our results have shown the upper limit of acceptable recirculation (10.3± 6.6) through double lumen catheter. Central venous catheter remains an important temporary access and in some cases the only achievable access for the patients. This recirculation should be considered when measuring adequacy level in these patients.