Objective To examine the impact of peritoneal dialysis catheter configuration, curled or straight catheter, on catheter survival and mechanical and infectious complications. Design Prospective randomized trial. Setting Department of Nephrology of a single university hospital. Patients Seventy-two consecutive patients initiating peritoneal dialysis were randomized to receive either a single cuff straight catheter or a single cuff curled catheter, implanted by percutaneous technique. Results Significantly higher (p < 0.01) survival rate of the curled as compared to the straight catheter. The difference in catheter survival was due to a significantly higher (p < 0.01) incidence of drainage failure associated with catheter tip migration of the straight catheter than of the curled catheter. No difference in infectious complication between the two types of catheters was seen. Catheter survival at 12 months was 77% for the curled catheter and 36% for the straight catheter. Conclusion This study demonstrates superiority of the curled Tenckhoff peritoneal dialysis catheter survival as compared to the straight catheter. This difference in catheter survival is due to the higher displacement rate of the straight catheter.

Trygfonden, Lundbeckfonden, and the Danish National Research Foundation.

Background: In addition to the regulation of calcium homeostasis, vitamin D affects the cellular immune system, targets the TNF-α pathway and increases vasoconstrictor response to angiotensin II. We therefore examined the effect of 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D 3 on coagulation and organ failure in experimental sepsis in the rat. Methods: Three series of placebo-controlled studies were conducted. All rats were pre-treated with daily SC injections of 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D 3 100 ng/kg or placebo vehicle for 3 days. In study 1, sepsis was accomplished by abdominal surgery comprising a coecal ligation and puncture with a 1,2 mm needle, or sham surgery. In study 2, the rats had a single IP injection of lipopolysaccharide from E. Coli 0111:B4 (LPS) 8 mg/kg, or placebo. In study 3, an hour-long IV infusion of LPS 7 mg/kg, or placebo was given. Results: All three models of sepsis showed significant effects on coagulation and liver function with reduced thrombocyte count and prothrombin time together with elevated ALT and bilirubin (p<0.05) as compared to controls. In study 1, the vitamin D treated rats maintained normal platelet count, whereas the vehicle treated rats showed a significant reduction (p<0.05). This effect of vitamin D on platelets was not found in the LPS-treated groups. We found no significant differences between vitamin D and placebo-treated rats with regards to liver function. Conclusion:The present data suggest a positive modulating effect of 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D 3 supplementation on sepsis-induced coagulation disturbances in the coecal ligation and puncture model. No such effect was found in LPS-induced sepsis.

Forty-eight patients scheduled to undergo spinal anaesthesia were allocated to three groups of 16 each according to ASA classification I-II-III. Each patient received a fluid load of 7 ml kg-1 and either ephedrine 12.5 mg i.v. and 37.5 mg i.m., or placebo. Twelve patients in the placebo groups developed a maximal decrease in mean arterial pressure exceeding 20%. Five of these (one in ASA II and four in ASA III) developed a decrease exceeding 33% and required treatment. In ASA risk group III, all patients in the placebo group had a decrease in mean arterial pressure exceeding 20%; in 50% of these patients, the decrease exceeded 33%. We conclude that prophylactic ephedrine is desirable for spinal anaesthesia, especially in ASA III patients.