Removal of drug delivered via a central venous catheter by a dual-lumen haemodiafiltration catheter inserted at the same site: a quantitative flow model

Excerpt

The objectives of this study were to model and visualise flow in a central vein during continuous venovenous haemodiafiltration (HDF), to measure drug removal when an HDF catheter is co-located with a central venous catheter (CVC) infusing medication. Dual lumen HDF catheters are commonly used to deliver continuous venovenous renal replacement therapy in critical care. These catheters are often co-located with a CVC used to infuse drugs, with the tips lying in close approximation in a great vein. The effect of this co-location on drug delivery to the patient due to aspiration by the HDF machine may be of serious import, with the elimination of important vasoactive drugs or minimally protein-bound antibiotics just two possibilities. This effect has never been studied. …