Role of Computed Tomographic Angiography in Central Venous Catheter Related Complications in Dialysis Patients

The central venous catheter (CVC) is broadly used in medical practice. However, its use constitutes an invasive procedure with morbidity..
To assess the role of computed tomographic angiography (CTA) in CVC related complications and the mid-term outcome of dialysis patients after their treatment..
This is a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of dialysis patients treated for CVC-related complications and their monitoring during a midterm follow-up..
From 2012 - 2014, eight patients (mean age 59 ± 1.2 years; 6 males) with CVC related complication were treated. All complication were diagnosed and verified by a CTA (100%). Two patients presented with local hematoma, 3 with major bleeding, 2 with a retained guide-wire, and 1 with a disconnected part of a port-catheter. The direct repair of an arterial or venous wall injury was undertaken in 7 patients, with the simultaneous removal of a retained guide-wire in 2 and the removal of a misplaced CVC in 1 of them. One patient had the endovascular approach with the removal of the disconnected part. No death or major complication occurred during the procedures. During the follow-up (range =12 - 24 mon), no re-intervention, clinical episode of venous thromboembolism, or death was recorded..
Invasive treatment of dialysis patients for CVC related complications is effective and durable during mid-term follow up with no re-intervention, clinical episode of VTE or death. CTA is a reliable mean for the diagnosis of CVC related complications..