Pulsatile flushing to reduce blockage of tunneled dialysis catheters
Official title: Exploring the Effectiveness of Pulsatile Flushing Technique in Reducing Blockage of the Tunnelled Central Venous Access Device Among Haemodialysis Patients in Multiple Renal Centres in Hong Kong: A Cluster Non-Randomised Controlled Trial Study
Run by Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong · NCT07567456 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This compares two pulsatile flushing methods to see if they reduce blockage of tunneled dialysis catheters in people on haemodialysis.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 591 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Kowloon) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | February 2, 2026 |
| Main results expected | December 2027 |
| Study ends | December 2027 |
| Registry record updated | May 11, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07567456 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are haemodialysis patients with a tunneled central venous access device who receive care at the participating Hospital Authority renal units and can provide informed consent in Chinese or English.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with non-tunneled catheters, occlusions from mechanical causes or fibrin sheaths requiring surgical intervention, temporary dysfunctions resolved by repositioning, or those unable or unwilling to consent are unlikely to benefit from the flushing techniques tested.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This is a prospective, parallel, cluster non-randomised controlled trial across 14 renal units in Hong Kong enrolling 591 haemodialysis patients with tunneled central venous access devices. Renal-unit clusters are assigned to one of three arms: pulsatile flushing with a 0.4 second pause (IG-A), pulsatile flushing with a 1 second pause (IG-B), or standard bolus flushing (control). The primary outcome is time-to-event blockage of the T-CVAD, analyzed using survival analysis to compare device patency between arms. Findings are intended to identify the most effective flushing interval and inform Hospital Authority best-practice protocols for catheter maintenance.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the preferred pulsatile flushing technique could reduce catheter blockages, lower the need for interventions and improve long-term dialysis access reliability.
How similar studies have gone: Pulsatile flushing methods have shown benefits in some peripheral and central catheter maintenance studies, but high-quality data specifically for tunneled haemodialysis catheters are limited, so this application is relatively novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Patients undergoing HD treatment with Tunnelled Central Venous Access Device (T-CVAD) in the above collaborators under the Hospital Authority * Able to understand spoken and written Chinese or English Exclusion Criteria: * Patients with Non-Tunnelled Central Venous Access Device (NT-CVAD) * Temporary dysfunction (e.g., kicking of the catheter) resolved with repositioning * Confirmed case of fibrin sheath occlusion which can only be resolved through surgical intervention * Non-thrombotic occlusion due to mechanical causes (e.g., catheter malposition) * Patient declined or incompetent to provide written informed consent.
Where it's running
-
Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Kowloon, Hong Kong Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: SUNG Ka Ming Dorothy, KCC NC (Renal Care)
- Email: bskmd01@ha.org.hk
- Phone: 852-3506
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
Colchicine in dialysis patients: a feasibility test
This study tests whether a low daily dose of colchicine is tolerable for adults on haemodialysis over 3 months.
-
How time on dialysis and urine output affect bladder size and flexibility in people waiting for a kidney transplant
See if longer time on dialysis and lower urine output make the bladder smaller and less flexible in adults with end-stage kidney disease who are awaiting a transplant.
-
KN060 to prevent clotting during hemodialysis for people with end-stage kidney disease
This trial will test KN060 in adults with end-stage renal disease on regular hemodialysis to see if it is safe and can reduce clotting in the dialyzer, extracorporeal circuit, and arteriovenous fistulas.
-
Using IVC collapsibility and diameters to predict blood pressure drops during hemodialysis
This project tries to see whether measuring the inferior vena cava collapsibility index and diameters one hour into dialysis can predict blood pressure drops in adults on maintenance hemodialysis.
-
Carotid ultrasound to predict blood pressure drops during dialysis
We're testing whether carotid ultrasound measurements can help predict which adults on long-term hemodialysis will have drops in blood pressure during treatment.
-
Pleth Variability Index to predict low blood pressure during maintenance hemodialysis
This will test whether a simple pulse-oximeter reading (PVI) can help predict which adults on routine hemodialysis will develop low blood pressure so clinicians can act earlier.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.