Table 3.
Complications in non-tunneled versus tunneled dialysis catheters used for AKI requiring renal replacement therapy
| Complication outcome | Adjusted rate ratio,a NTDC vs TDC (95% CI) | p-value |
|---|---|---|
| Blood cultures | ||
| Cultures drawn per catheter | 2.1 (1.7–2.8) | <0.001 |
| Positive cultures drawn per catheter | 1.4 (0.6–3.4) | 0.41 |
| Mechanical complications | ||
| Mechanical complications (excluding multiple sticks) | 13.6 (2.9–63.0) | 0.001 |
| Mechanical complications (including multiple sticks) | 69.1 (16.6–288.2) | <0.001 |
| All complications | ||
| Positive cultures and mechanical complications (excluding multiple sticks) | 3.3 (1.6–6.8) | <0.001 |
| Positive cultures and mechanical complications (including multiple sticks) | 12.5 (6.5–24.0) | <0.001 |
| Number of catheters per patient | 1.8 (1.2–2.6) | 0.002 |
CI Confidence interval; NTDC Non-tunneled dialysis catheter; TDC Tunneled dialysis catheter
aAdjusted rate ratios for complications with non-tunneled versus tunneled catheters (reference group), from mixed effects models adjusted for ATN risk score, history of chronic kidney disease, renal team, and AKI cause (ATN vs others)