Ash Split Cath® in geriatric dialyzed patients

Vascular access is the essential step in performing hemodialysis in uremic patients. In the absence of a permanent and utilizable native arterio-venous fistula, the use of a tunnelled catheter makes dialysis therapy possible. The Ash Split Cath, a recently introduced chronic hemodialysis catheter, was inserted in five patients (7.1 % of our prevalent dialysis population) because of repeated venous thrombosis in three patients and a poor venous tree in two. The mean age of patients was 78 years +/- 7. The average blood flow rate was 250 +/- 50 ml/minute and the mean venous pressure 140mm Hg +/- 35. Recirculation determined by low flux technique was less than 2 %. KT/V calculated 3 months after the catheter placement was 1.2 +/- 0.02. During the follow-up we did not document any infection of the exit site or related to the catheter. This device is simple to place, gives adequate dialysis treatment and is useful in geriatric dialyzed patients in whom the arterio-venous fistula can no longer be used.