Tunnelled central venous catheters for incident haemodialysis patients: a Victorian survey exploring reasons for use.

Background: Tunnelled central venous catheters (T-CVCs) are used globally as vascular access for patients on haemodialysis (HD) but are associated with increased sepsis, mortality, cost and length of hospitalisation compared with more permanent HD vascular access. The reasons for using T-CVC are varied and poorly understood. A significant and increasing proportion of incident HD patients in Victoria, Australia, have required T-CVC over the last decade.
Aim: To explore reasons for a significant and increasing proportion of incident HD patients in Victoria, Australia, having required T-CVC over the last decade.
Methods: With rates of starting HD with definitive vascular access consistently below a Victorian quality indicator target of 70%, an online survey was developed to explore reasons why the rate remained lower than desired and to help inform future decisions about this quality indicator. The survey was completed by dialysis access coordinators over an 8-month period and involved all public nephrology services in Victoria.
Results: Of the 125 surveys completed, 101 incident HD patients had no attempt at permanent vascular access prior to T-CVC insertion. For almost half of these (48 patients), there was no active medical decision not to create permanent vascular access prior to commencing dialysis. Reasons for insertion of the T-CVC included deterioration of kidney function faster than anticipated, surgical referral being overlooked, complications related to peritoneal dialysis requiring a change in dialysis modality and changes to initial decisions regarding dialysis modality for kidney failure.
Conclusions: These survey results provide an opportunity for quality improvement initiatives with respect to dialysis access planning and care.
(© 2023 The Authors. Internal Medicine Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Royal Australasian College of Physicians.)