The drug heparin employed for treating dialysis catheter malfunction in kidney dialysis patients appears more beneficial than previously thought. Investigators pinpoint that malfunction and infections occurring in dialysis patients can be restricted with the help of heparin. The study findings may benefit a wide number of patients subjected to hemodialysis.
The study was triggered on 115 hemodialysis patients who were provided with the usual catheter locking solution of heparin after every dialysis session and 110 patients receiving rt-PA once a week. Reportedly, those only on heparin were twice as likely to suffer a catheter malfunction and at an almost three-fold elevated risk of blood stream infection. However, when heparin is put to use as a locking solution in the catheter after dialysis, it seemingly prevents malfunction and also increases the longevity of dialysis catheter.
A probable way to clean blood when diagnosed with kidney failure is hemodialysis. In this form of treatment, a catheter is placed into the blood system. During this process majority of the patients report a number of complications that are known as ‘catheter malfunction.’ Dr. Brenda Hemmelgarn from the University of Calgary Faculty of Medicine and colleagues believe that heparin along with the catheter benefits dialysis patients and keeps the dialysis catheter working for a longer period of time.
The study is published in the January 27th edition of the New England Journal of Medicine.