By Mark Gauthier
Ask Dr. Robert Provenzano, chief of nephrology, hypertension, and transplantation at St. John Hospital & Medical Center, what the most common complaints received from both staff members and dialysis patients when discussing catheter care, and he’ll tell you it’s the lack of comfort and difficulty in maintaining cleanliness of the gauze and tape used to protect and cover the devices.
The incidences of significant health-related issues resulting from catheter maintenance are increasing worldwide, causing an alarming rate of infection and hospitalization among hemodialysis catheter users. A 2009 U.S. Renal Data System (USRDS) report showed that infections are responsible for 37.5 percent of all hemodialysis patient hospitalizations and are the leading cause of hospitalization and death.
To read more about the new catheter cover check out the August RBT Digital Issue.
