SUMMARY:
Endoluminal brushing, used to declot various types of central venous access lines, was undertaken in 19 haemodialysis catheters (vascaths) that were either totally occluded or produced flows inadequate for successful dialysis. Six (32%) were able to be used successfully immediately after the procedure, two after intracatheter urokinase following brushing and in a further three catheter patency was restored by rebrushing. Endoluminal brushing, with or without additional urokinase, restored patency in 42% of these catheters and dialysis was still successful in this group after 2 weeks. Endoluminal brushing did not change oxygen saturation, pulse rate, blood pressure or temperature in these patients and there were no episodes of clinical pulmonary embolism or sepsis. These findings suggest a role for endoluminal brushing in the early management of occluded haemodialysis catheters.
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