What is it about?
Removal of tunneled dialysis catheters (TDC) usually occurs in dedicated procedure suites and is performed relatively rarely at the bedside. We conducted a chart review of all TDC removals performed on an outpatient basis by nephrology fellows under faculty supervision during a 5-year period at an academic Veterans Affairs Medical Center. We found that outpatient TDC removal by trainees was successful and safe in the vast majority of cases (99%). We propose that TDC removal skills should be actively pursued and acquired by all nephrology fellows. This would expand the scope of practice for future general nephrologists and facilitate timely patient care.
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Why is it important?
Scarce evidence exists in the literature to evaluate the safety and success of this procedure when performed during supervised academic training. Hence, the need arose for such an assessment.
Perspectives
The purpose of our study was to assess the safety, success and the risk of complications of this procedure when performed on an outpatient basis at the bedside by trainee nephrology fellows. We also aimed to evaluate the risk of bleeding in patients receiving anti-platelet therapy or vitamin-K antagonist based oral anticoagulation at the time of removal.
Professor Neville R. Dossabhoy
LSU School of Medicine and VAMC, Shreveport, LA
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Outpatient Removal of Tunneled Dialysis Catheters by Nephrology Fellows in Training at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center, The Journal of Vascular Access, May 2016, SAGE Publications,
DOI: 10.5301/jva.5000571.
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