The International journal of artificial organs
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Observational Study
Predictors of failure of catheter salvage in incident hemodialysis patients.
Catheter-related bloodstream infection is a frequent complication for patients who use catheter as dialysis access. This study was performed to identify the risk factors for failed catheter salvage. ⋯ Catheter salvage can be a reasonable initial strategy for symptomatically mild patients. We propose salvaging aggressively and waiting watchfully; however, clinical judgment is prior to any specific management protocol.
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Conventional gas-compensated medication reservoirs used for implantable infusion devices require perfect sealing of the gas chamber, because the gases used are generally toxic. In addition, the physical properties of selected gas critically affect the performance of infusion devices and hydraulic performance of the infusion device can be affected by the amount of medication discharged. In this study, we suggest a new medication reservoir that adopts a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-compensating mechanism, such that when a medication is released from the reservoir by a mechanical actuator, native CSF enters into the reservoir to minimize the build-up of pressure drop. ⋯ Moreover, it showed moderate implant feasibility and operating stability during an animal experiment performed for 12 days. We believe that the proposed volume-compensating mechanism could be applied in various medical fields that use implantable devices.