Abstract: Objective To compare the clinical effects on hemodialysis (HD) using trocar and conventional steel puncture needles. Methods A total of 26 patients with arterovenous fistula (AVF) for HD were enrolled in this study. They were randomly divided to 2 groups. Patients in group one used trocar needles and patients in group two used conventional steel needles in the first stage of 6 HD sessions. The puncture needles were exchanged between the two groups in stage 2, which also included 6 HD sessions. HD parameters including treatment blood volume (TBV), ultrafiltration volume (UFV), urine reduction ratio (URR), urea clearance index (Kt/V), effective blood volume (EBV), actual dialysate volume (ADV), ultrafiltration (UFR), pressure of arterial (PA), pressure of venous (PV), transmembrane pressure (TMP) were compared between sessions using the two kinds of needles. Results Kt/V [(1.57±0.37) vs. (1.49±0.34), F= 4.144, P=0.043], EBV [(260.2 ± 45.1)ml/min vs. (251.6 ± 28.6)ml/min, F=13.742, P＜0.001] and PA [(-149.3±55.0)mmHg vs. (-177.7±53.6)mmHg, F=15.048, P＜0.001] were much higher in the HD sessions using trocar needles than in those using conventional steel needles. PV value was less in trocar sessions than in conventional steel needle sessions [(105.8±39.4)mmHg vs. (123.6±38.0)mmHg, F=12.272, P＜0.001]. Conclusion Trocar needles can improve the blood volume access and increase the clearance ratio of urea, as compared with those using conventional steel needles.

Key words: Hemodialysis, Arterovenous fistulae, Trocar, Puncture