Background:
Central vein stenosis is a late complication of CVC. We assess the risk factors and treatment outcome.
Methods:
A retrospective study on chronic haemodialysis patients in Sarawak, Malaysia in 2003.
Results:
Out of 315 hemodialysis patients, 127 had CVC. Fifty percent (7/14) of patients with LIJC developed central vein stenosis compared with 0·9% (1/117) with RIJC (p<0·05). Seven out of 13 patients with left CVC and left AVF developed signs and symptoms of central vein stenosis in comparison to one out of 24 patients with right CVC and right AVF (p=0·001). Among the 14 patients with LIJC, those with central vein stenosis were older (p=0·028) and tended to have longer duration of catheterisation (p=0·142). Among the eight patients with central vein stenosis, four underwent venoplasty and stenting. All had symptoms improvement.
Conclusion:
LIJC is associated with a high risk of central vein stenosis especially in the older patients. Venoplasty and stenting is a feasible treatment.