Blind deep venous puncture is an invasive procedure with risks of serious complications compromising the availability of veins for future punctures or endangering the patient's life. We designed a new hand-held pulsed Doppler probe for coaxial guidance of the puncture needle and a dedicated pulsed Doppler device displaying the depth of the measurement volume. We used this technique prospectively in two independent centers (the nephrology department and the intensive care unit) involving senior as well as junior staff members. Either the non-Doppler or the Doppler method were randomly selected for subclavian vein catheterization in 100 patients and for internal jugular vein catheterization in 30 patients. The success rate on the first attempt was 86.2% for the non-Doppler method versus 96.8% for the Doppler method (p = 0.03). The failure rate of the non-Doppler method used by junior staff members was 9.2%, reduced to 1.5% (p = 0.05) by secondary use of the Doppler method and/or help from a senior staff member (rescue procedure). Pulsed Doppler guidance reduced significantly the failure rate of venous punctures especially when used by seniors or by juniors after a training period.

Biofilms are known to be responsible for chronic peritoneal dialysis (PD)-related infections. Such infections are still frequent among patients in PD. The aim of this study was to develop a new approach in the prevention of chronic PD-related infection by regular injection of specific formulations containing detachment-promoting agents. A biofilm reactor system reproducing PD-like operating conditions was developed. A first set of experiments allowed the assessment of the anti-biofilm efficacy of various formulations. Then, experiments were performed for a longer duration and selected formulations were tested and compared with taurolidine. Biofilm removal was quantified by calculating the percentage of coverage reduction compared with an untreated control. A regular weekly treatment led to a 97% reduction of the surface coverage although a daily treatment with taurolidine still left 48% of the biomass on the surface. Such treatment is recommended to reduce the frequencies of chronic PD-related infections.

Since 1991 we have used subcutaneous administration of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEpo) in predialysis patients selected on the basis of chronic anaemia [haemoglobin (Hb) < 7.5 g%] without any extrarenal cause and chronic renal failure with a creatinine clearance of less than 10 ml/min. rHuEpo was given to 16 predialysis patients with nephropathy, due to chronic glomerulonephritis in all 12 of the cases. The sex ratio was 1:1 and mean age was 65 +/- 9 years (range 43-87). Hb was 7 +/- 0.4 g%. rHuEpo was injected subcutaneously thrice weekly while iron was given orally systematically before rHuEpo administration. Follow-up was performed monthly until dialysis (mean 9 months). Anaemia was corrected in all cases (Hb 11 +/- 0.5 g%). Mean Epo dose was 53 +/- 26 IU/kg/week in males and 47 +/- 11 IU/kg/week in females. Iron was systematically added (Fe2+ 8.2 mg/kg/week). Every patient had improved physical and intellectual ability after rHuEpo within the first month. No adverse side effects were noted but all patients were under antihypertensive therapy (one to three drugs). Serum potassium was unchanged. Mean creatinine before treatment was 507 mumol/l, and was 820 mumol/l after the treatment. Progression of renal failure was only affected by rHuEpo in one patient. In this case renal failure progression decreased. There was no significant alteration in the slope of the creatinine curve from 12 months before to after rHuEpo. Ten patients underwent dialysis (five CAPD, five haemodialysis), while six remained dialysis free. From January 1991 to December 1993 rHuEpo was given to 12.3% of the end-stage renal failure patients on dialysis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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