Muhammad Tariq Siddique, Habib Ahmed, Saqib Ismail, Ramadan Attawa.
Two Years Experience using Permanent Catheter for Haemodialysis.
Pak J Med Health Sci Jan ;7(3):709-12.

Aim: To review retrospectively our two years experience with Permcath. Methods: This retrospective study was carried out in 100 patients. 96 patients had chronic end stage renal failure and four had acute renal failure. Catheters were inserted in patients awaiting the creation or maturation of an arteriovenous fistula, or patients in acute renal failure. Catheters were also inserted in patients in whom other forms of access were unavailable or had failed and where the duration of access was to be indefinite. End points of the study were catheter removal, death of a patient or completion of the study period. The minimum follow up period after catheter insertion was 16 months. Patients’ outcome was studied regarding survival, complications and failure rates. Results: 97(97%) of the 100 patients were successfully managed with the catheter. The most common complications were partial obstruction or inadequate flow and catheter infection. Other complications were catheter thrombosis, central venous thrombosis, tunnel abscess, catheter damage, pneumothorax and haemothorax. A total of 51 patients developed catheter related complications over the period of two years. Out of these, catheter was removed and reinserted at different site in 43 patients. Two patients died due to catheter related complications, and 14 patients died with functioning catheter during the study, due to primary disease. In 30 patients, catheter was removed electively as a result of not needed any more (AV fistula maturation, renal transplant, recovery of renal functions or death of patient with functioning catheter). 51 patients were alive with functioning catheters at the end of two years. Conclusion: Permcath remain a reliable method for short term vascular access when the other access modalities are unavailable. It may offer a valuable alternative for long term haemodialysis.

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