[Dialock--an alternative to Permcath and access graft].

Purpose: An adequate vascular access is the precondition for a well-functioning hemodialysis. Due to the increasing age and the rising co-morbidity of hemodialysis patients the number of those with grafts or central venous catheters (CVC) is steadily growing. The Dialock vascular access system provides a subcutaneously implantable device for hemodialysis that combines the advantages of central venous access with percutaneous puncture.

Patients And Methods: Over a period of 30 months 26 Dialock vascular access systems were implanted at our department. 17 patients were male, 9 patients female. In 11 patients the implantation of this system was indicated for internal medicine reasons. In 15 long-term hemodialysis patients implantation was carried out as ultimate solution because of persisting vascular access problems. In a comparable control group of 22 hemodialysis patients 47 vascular accesses were registered within the same period. In parallel, another 110 patients with grafts implanted at our department at that time but not put to hemodialysis at our clinic were analysed.

Results: In a comparable number of access days the graft and the central venous catheter showed a considerably higher infection rate (Exit site + blood stream infection) per 1,000 hemodialysis access days than the vascular access device. The rate of malfunctions with or without subsequent lysis was higher using the CVC than when applying Dialock or graft. Angiographies with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), or thrombectomies, respectively were significantly more often required with the graft than changes of catheter when using the vascular access system. More than half of the 110 patients observed at the same time, who had a graft implanted at our department without subsequent hemodialysis at our clinic had to undergo another surgical or radiologic intervention.

Conclusion: The Dialock access system represents in our experience a safe and with careful application less complicated vascular access device for the complex hemodialysis patient. With comparatively low infection and complication rates the Dialock vascular access system serves as a good alternative to the permanent CVC (Permcath) as well as to the graft.