Dialysis Catheters May Be Linked to Higher Infection Risks

Approximately 1.5 million people around the world undergo dialysis treatment for kidney failure. This is a process by which blood is filtered to remove wastes and impurities. A new study finds that patients who are on dialysis using catheters may have a much higher risk of infection, fatality and cardiac problems than those who use other methods of accessing blood.

The findings are based on an analysis of 67 studies involving more than 600,000 dialysis patients. These patients used three different procedures to access blood: a central venous catheter, an arteriovenous fistula and an arteriovenous graft.

The researchers looked at the rate of infection and heart problems, including heart attack and stroke link, for each procedure. They found that patients who used catheters were approximately 38 percent more likely to develop a major cardiac problem and had a 53 percent greater risk of dying. The risk of developing a fatal infection also more than doubled compared with that of patients who had vascular access through an arteriovenous fistula.

Patients who had vascular access using arteriovenous graft had an 18 percent increased risk of death and a 36 percent increased risk of serious infections, compared with those who used the fistula for vascular access.

The researchers found that arteriovenous fistula is the least risky method of vascular access. The patients in the study who were using catheters were found to be much sicker than those using the arteriovenous fistula.

As Seattle medical negligence lawyers, we believe that there is a need for more research to determine the safety of the various procedures used for accessing blood during dialysis.

The Seattle medical malpractice lawyers at Morrow Kidman Tinker Macey-Cushman, PLLC represent victims of medical negligence by doctors, nurses, technicians and other medical personnel across Seattle.