VenaTrac™ Device for Over-the-Wire Placement of Chronic Dialysis Catheters

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Abstract: The VenaTrac is a new device designed to be used during exchange and primary placement of chronic tunneled hemodialysis catheters over a wire. It occludes both lumens of the catheter for the purpose of reducing the risk of air embolism and blood loss. A retrospective review of 171 chronic hemodialysis dialysis catheters placed using the VenaTrac device was made. Hundred twenty four procedures were catheter exchanges over a wire and 47 were primary placement without peel-away sheath. 145 catheters (85%) were inserted from right internal jugular vein approach and 26 (15%) from left internal jugular vein. In one case primary placement over the wire failed and conversion to a peel-away sheath was needed. No insertion complications using the VenaTrac were encountered. Specifically, no air embolism was seen. During the study period 5 cases of air emboli were documented during catheter exchanges without the use of VenaTrac. VenaTrac over-the-wire insertion device demonstrated safe and reliable use with no incidence of air embolism.

Introduction:

Insertion of tunneled hemodialysis catheters is a common procedure performed in the interventional suite or the operating room. Insertion can be done either with a peel apart introducer sheath or over the wire. Because of frequent incidence of air embolism during insertion using regular peel-away sheath, valved peel-away sheaths were developed which have shown to greatly reduce air embolism (Kolbeck, et al., 2005).

Over the wire insertion technique has advantages of reducing air embolism and excessive blood loss. During the insertion procedure the introducer sheath serves as an open conduit between the superior vena cava and the atmospheric air. Because of the negative pressu...

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