Nocturnal hemodialysis: three-year experience.

There is evidence that high frequency, as well as long duration, hemodialysis provides better clinical outcomes. We developed nocturnal hemodialysis, a new innovative form of renal replacement therapy, which is performed six to seven nights per week for 8 to 10 h during sleep at home. Blood flow was set at 300 ml/min and dialysate flow at 100 ml/min.

Control of serum phosphate without any phosphate binders in patients treated with nocturnal hemodialysis.

We compared the efficacy and the long-term effects of nocturnal hemodialysis (NHD) versus conventional hemodialysis (CHD) in controlling serum phosphate levels in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Patients underwent thrice weekly CHD and were subsequently switched to NHD six nights weekly. In the "acute" study serum and dialysate phosphate were measured during and after dialysis, and the total dialysate was collected to calculate mass solute removal.

Slow nocturnal home hemodialysis at the Wellesley Hospital.

To alleviate the overcrowding of in-center hemodialysis (HD) facilities, we have developed slow nocturnal home hemodialysis (SNHHD), an innovative form of renal replacement therapy. SNHHD is performed 5 to 7 nights/week for 8 hours, during sleep, with a blood flow of 300 mL/min and a dialysate flow of 100 mL/min. The vascular access is by means of the Uldall-Cook catheter, which allows for easy patient access with low infection rates.

Percutaneously inserted silastic jugular hemodialysis catheters seldom cause jugular vein thrombosis.

To find out whether internal jugular vein cannulation with a soft silastic hemodialysis access catheter causes jugular vein thrombosis, the authors carried out Doppler ultrasound examinations on 96 patients receiving hemodialysis who had undergone 144 separate catheter insertion episodes in 116 veins. Two internal jugular vein thromboses were found in 101 veins that had been the site of percutaneous insertions only. In addition, 5 internal jugular vein thromboses were identified in 15 veins that had been cannulated surgically with the Quinton PermCath.

Lack of enhanced T-helper cell function in uremic patients with circulating alloreactive antibodies.

Some uremic patients with a history of blood transfusion, pregnancy, and previous transplantation maintain high levels of alloreactive cytotoxic antibodies in the absence of continuous exogenous allogenic stimuli and are thus considered sensitized to the major histocompatibility proteins. To differentiate into antibody-producing cells, B lymphocytes must interact with T-helper (CD4+) cells. Whether ongoing help from these cells is necessary for the B cells to continue producing cytotoxic alloreactive antibodies in these sensitized uremic patients is unknown.

Dialyser reuse: an automated system using peracetic acid.

For 3 years starting in April 1989, in a 17-station, in-centre haemodialysis unit at the Toronto Western Hospital, re-use of dialysers was performed using the Renatron-2 Dialyser Reprocessing System with peracetic acid as a sterilant. During this period 40,234 treatments were carried out and dialysers were used an average of 4.2 times.

Superior vena cava stenosis associated with hemodialysis catheters.

The cases are described of four patients on long-term hemodialysis who developed stenosis of the superior vena cava (SVC) that interfered with the functioning or placement of jugular catheters for hemodialysis. All four patients had previously received multiple subclavian and/or jugular catheters inserted for hemodialysis access. In three patients, the SVC stenosis was successfully dilated by balloon angioplasty, and in one of these a stent was inserted to prevent restenosis.

A new vascular access catheter for hemodialysis.

A new vascular access catheter has been developed (Cook Critical Care, Bloomington, IN) that is suitable for both short-term and long-term hemodialysis. Designed primarily for the internal jugular vein, it emerges through a subcutaneous tunnel on the anterior chest wall. With parallel cylindrical lumens to provide blood flows of 400 mL/min, it is compressible during insertion and can be placed percutaneously in the vein through a 13-French peel-away sheath.

Maintaining the patency of double-lumen silastic jugular catheters for haemodialysis.

A system has been developed for maintaining the patency of double lumen silastic jugular catheters in patients with refractory vascular access problems. Most patients receive a small daily dose of aspirin. Selected patients also receive warfarin to maintain a prothrombin time (PT) of 15, 20, or 30 seconds.

Pruritus in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis patients.

To study the prevalence and pathogenesis of uremic pruritus, CAPD and HD patients were asked to complete a questionnaire. The replies were quantitated based on numerical scales, and the results were compared with various hematological and biochemical parameters, underlying disease, and duration of dialysis. There were 113 CAPD patients (63 males and 50 females), mean age 60 (range 20-84) years, average time on CAPD 20 (range 1-163) months and 76 HD patients (44 males and 32 females) mean age 57 (range 23-81) years, mean time on HD 44 (range 2-242) months.

An enzymatic method for measuring serum mannitol and its use in hemodialysis patients.

We evaluated two chemical methods for quantifying mannitol in serum, based on the oxidation of mannitol by periodate, and measurement of the formaldehyde formed with chromotropic acid (colorimetry) or acetylacetone (fluorometry). We found interference in these methods by serum glycerol. Additionally, a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was evaluated and found to be specific but impractical for routine use.

The use of nuclear magnetic resonance imaging in monitoring total body iron in hemodialysis patients with hemosiderosis treated with erythropoietin and phlebotomy.

Two hemodialysis patients with hemosiderosis were treated with combined erythropoietin and repeated phlebotomy. Serial nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging and serum ferritin levels were used to monitor the efficacy of treatment. This treatment modality has definite advantages over chronic deferoxamine therapy.

Septicemia in long-term jugular hemodialysis catheters; eradicating infection by changing the catheter over a guidewire.

By convention, septicemia occurring from an infected vascular catheter is treated with antibiotics and removal of the catheter. This approach, used with surgically implanted long-term catheters would be expected to result in loss of the vascular access site. During a 57 month period, we treated 21 episodes of septicemia secondary to infection of long term indwelling double lumen jugular venous catheters in our hemodialysis unit.

Cardiac perforation by a guide wire during subclavian catheter insertion.

We report a patient in whom cardiac perforation was directly caused by a straight soft tipped guide wire used to introduce a subclavian dialysis catheter. We recommend the use of J tip guide wires to avoid this life threatening complication.

Simultaneous aortic and renal artery reconstruction for acute arterial occlusion in solitary kidney.

A case is described of the onset of acute renal failure due to renal artery occlusion in a solitary kidney of a sixty-six-year-old woman. She had been treated for severe hypertension due to renal artery stenosis. An aortorenal bypass to revascularized the kidney was combined with repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Prevention of thrombosis in arteriovenous fistulas.

To prevent thrombosis in arteriovenous fistulas it is necessary to obtain the knowledgeable cooperation not only of the whole health care team, but also of the patient. The first step is preservation of forearm veins by avoiding unnecessary venipunctures in patients with chronic renal failure. Fistulas should be constructed well in advance of need and use natural rather than prosthetic veins whenever possible.

The effect of hemodialysis on cardiac rhythm and performance.

The effects of hemodialysis on cardiac rhythm and left ventricular function were evaluated by Holter electrocardiographic monitoring and M-mode echocardiography in 22 stable patients on regular hemodialysis in hospital. Significant ventricular arrhythmias occurred in 9%. Mean left ventricular volume in diastole (LVVd) decreased significantly after dialysis from 156 +/- 12 ml to 135 +/- 9 ml (P less than 0.

Simplified arteriovenous fistula construction with tissue adhesive.

A technique is described for the construction of A-V fistulae for hemodialysis by performing an end-to-end anastomosis between artery and vein by means of a cyano-acrylate tissue adhesive. The method is quick and easy, provides for good results, and has been free of complications.