End Stage Renal Failure, HemodialysisNCT07649083
Comparison of Tunneled Cuffed Dialysis Catheters Versus Arteriovenous Fistulae in Elderly or Multimorbid Patients
A study testing Tunneled cuffed catheter (TCC) will be implanted for chronic haemodialysis treatment and Arteriovenous fistula creation for chronic haemodialysis treatment in people with End Stage Renal Failure, Hemodialysis and Vascular Access, run by Medical University of Vienna.
Trial summary
Patients are randomly assigned to a study group. Depending on the study group, either an arteriovenous fistula or tunneled cuffed catheter (TCC) will be implanted, followed by continuous evaluation of the patients during the first year after initiating the vascular access. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 99 years
- Conditions the study is for
- End Stage Renal Failure, Hemodialysis, Vascular Access, Fistulas Arteriovenous
- What is being tested?
- Tunneled cuffed catheter (TCC) will be implanted for chronic haemodialysis treatment and Arteriovenous fistula creation for chronic haemodialysis treatment
- Type of treatment
- Medical device, Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 220 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- 1 Aug 2026to 31 Dec 2030
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 99 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Aged ≥60 years or <60 years with a CCI Score >6
- Patients with CKD G5 A1-3 with indication for hemodialysis
- Stable clinical condition
- Eligibility for both arteriovenous fistula on the upper extremities and TCC
- Availability for follow-up
- Written informed consent
Who cannot join
- Uncontrolled infection and/or CRP >5 mg/dl (normal <0.5 mg/dl) at screening
- Poor overall health or malignancy not in remission at screening
- Major surgery within 12 weeks before screening
- Pre-existent vascular access
- Patient not eligible for any one of the vascular access options
- Endovascular arteriovenous fistula
Trial locations and contacts
No sites are listed yet. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
About this study
Patients are randomly assigned to a study group. Depending on the study group, either an arteriovenous fistula or tunneled cuffed catheter (TCC) will be implanted, followed by continuous evaluation of the patients during the first year after initiating the vascular access. The evaluation includes statistical evaluation of all events, including loss of access, thrombosis, infection, loss of patency, increase in co-morbidities, e.g. congestive heart failure as well as quality of life. The implantation of the TCC is a standard procedure and it will be used only in accordance with the approved instructions of use on subjects who have signed an informed consent form. The surgery is a standard operation and it will be performed by specialized surgeons on subjects who have signed an informed consent form (No grafts will be used; implantation of a standard TCC, used at the Department of Nephrology). Both, an arteriovenous fistula or a TCC, will be used for routine chronic haemodialysis
Read the detailed description
Patients with diagnosed end stage kidney disease and indication for chronic dialysis rely on a well-functioning access for dialysis. For long term haemodialysis there are three possibilities: arteriovenous fistulae, arteriovenous grafts and tunneled cuffed catheters. For the last decades, the preferred form of vascular access for every eligible patient was based on the "Fistula First Breakthrough Initiative", nowadays NVAII (National Vascular Access Improvement Initiative), implemented by the US-American CMS (Centers for Medicare \& Medicaid Services). Although the "fistula first" dogma evolved to the more patient-centered recommendation "right access, for the right patient, at the right time for the right reasons" of the latest KDOQI guidelines from 2019, fistula still is seen as the "better" access compared with tunneled catheters whenever possible. The generally low quality of catheter care in previous retrospective publications make meaningful comparisons between fistula and catheter populations difficult. There are no prospective studies on this subject so far. In this study, we address differences between two dialysis vascular access types in elderly (Age 60 and older) and/or multimorbid patients (Charlson Comorbidity Index score of >6)
- Conditions
- End Stage Renal Failure, Hemodialysis, Vascular Access, Fistulas Arteriovenous, Haemodialysis Complication, Haemodialysis Patients
- Being tested
- Tunneled cuffed catheter (TCC) will be implanted for chronic haemodialysis treatment, Arteriovenous fistula creation for chronic haemodialysis treatment
- Medical subject headings
- Renal Insufficiency, Chronic, Arteriovenous Fistula
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Tunneled cuffed catheter (TCC) will be implanted for chronic haemodialysis treatmentDevice
In this study we will compare TCCs with arteriovenous fistulas. In our hypothesis, TCCs will be superior to arteriovenous fistulas , because incidence of the main disadvantages of TCC, infection and low flow rates, have been reduced significantly since implantation techniques and product quality of TCC, hygiene protocols and lock solutions for TCC have steadily been improved over the last decade.
Arteriovenous fistula creation for chronic haemodialysis treatmentProcedure or surgery
In this arm arteriovenous fistulas will be created for chronic haemodialysis treatment.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Arteriovenous fistula creation for chronic haemodialysis treatment | Active comparator | Not described Receives: Procedure: Arteriovenous fistula creation for chronic haemodialysis treatment |
| Tunneled cuffed catheter insertion for chronic haemodialysis treatment | Experimental | Not described Receives: Device: Tunneled cuffed catheter (TCC) will be implanted for chronic haemodialysis treatment |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
The composite primary end-point is any access related complication (loss of access, infection and/or thrombosis)
Measured: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 52 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted16 Jun 2026
- Study start1 Aug 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion31 Dec 2029 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Dec 2030 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (6)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for End Stage Renal Failure, HemodialysisStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Medical University of ViennaThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 220 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Medical University of Vienna
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Guerkan SENGOELGE, Medical University of Vienna
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07649083
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 1656/2016
- Status last verified
- Jun 2026
- First submitted
- 11 Jun 2026
- Last updated
- 16 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Publications
Vachharajani TJ, Moist LM, Glickman MH, Vazquez MA, Polkinghorne KR, Lok CE, Lee TC. Elderly patients with CKD--dilemmas in dialysis therapy and vascular access. Nat Rev Nephrol. 2014 Feb;10(2):116-22. doi: 10.1038/nrneph.2013.256. Epub 2013 Dec 3.
PubMed 24296629Lok CE. Fistula first initiative: advantages and pitfalls. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2007 Sep;2(5):1043-53. doi: 10.2215/CJN.01080307. Epub 2007 Aug 16. No abstract available.
PubMed 17702726Ridao-Cano N, Polo JR, Polo J, Perez-Garcia R, Sanchez M, Gomez-Campdera FJ. Vascular access for dialysis in the elderly. Blood Purif. 2002;20(6):563-8. doi: 10.1159/000066961.
PubMed 12566673Lok CE, Huber TS, Lee T, Shenoy S, Yevzlin AS, Abreo K, Allon M, Asif A, Astor BC, Glickman MH, Graham J, Moist LM, Rajan DK, Roberts C, Vachharajani TJ, Valentini RP; National Kidney Foundation. KDOQI Clinical Practice Guideline for Vascular Access: 2019 Update. Am J Kidney Dis. 2020 Apr;75(4 Suppl 2):S1-S164. doi: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2019.12.001. Epub 2020 Mar 12.
PubMed 32778223Xue JL, Dahl D, Ebben JP, Collins AJ. The association of initial hemodialysis access type with mortality outcomes in elderly Medicare ESRD patients. Am J Kidney Dis. 2003 Nov;42(5):1013-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ajkd.2003.07.004.
PubMed 14582045Coresh J, Selvin E, Stevens LA, Manzi J, Kusek JW, Eggers P, Van Lente F, Levey AS. Prevalence of chronic kidney disease in the United States. JAMA. 2007 Nov 7;298(17):2038-47. doi: 10.1001/jama.298.17.2038.
PubMed 17986697
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 16 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Comparison of Tunneled Cuffed Dialysis Catheters Versus Arteriovenous Fistulae in Elderly or Multimorbid Patients
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07649083
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 1656/2016
- Conditions
- End Stage Renal Failure, Hemodialysis, Vascular Access, Fistulas Arteriovenous, Haemodialysis Complication, Haemodialysis Patients
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 220 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Medical University of ViennaUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Aug 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 31 Dec 2029 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Dec 2030 (estimated)
- First posted
- 16 Jun 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Patients are randomly assigned to a study group. Depending on the study group, either an arteriovenous fistula or tunneled cuffed catheter (TCC) will be implanted, followed by continuous evaluation of the patients during the first year after initiating the vascular access. The evaluation includes statistical evaluation of all events, including loss of access, thrombosis, infection, loss of patency, increase in co-morbidities, e.g. congestive heart failure as well as quality of life. The implantation of the TCC is a standard procedure and it will be used only in accordance with the approved instructions of use on subjects who have signed an informed consent form. The surgery is a standard operation and it will be performed by specialized surgeons on subjects who have signed an informed consent form (No grafts will be used; implantation of a standard TCC, used at the Department of Nephrology). Both, an arteriovenous fistula or a TCC, will be used for routine chronic haemodialysis
Detailed description
Patients with diagnosed end stage kidney disease and indication for chronic dialysis rely on a well-functioning access for dialysis. For long term haemodialysis there are three possibilities: arteriovenous fistulae, arteriovenous grafts and tunneled cuffed catheters. For the last decades, the preferred form of vascular access for every eligible patient was based on the "Fistula First Breakthrough Initiative", nowadays NVAII (National Vascular Access Improvement Initiative), implemented by the US-American CMS (Centers for Medicare \& Medicaid Services). Although the "fistula first" dogma evolved to the more patient-centered recommendation "right access, for the right patient, at the right time for the right reasons" of the latest KDOQI guidelines from 2019, fistula still is seen as the "better" access compared with tunneled catheters whenever possible. The generally low quality of catheter care in previous retrospective publications make meaningful comparisons between fistula and catheter populations difficult. There are no prospective studies on this subject so far. In this study, we address differences between two dialysis vascular access types in elderly (Age 60 and older) and/or multimorbid patients (Charlson Comorbidity Index score of >6)
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Arteriovenous fistula creation for chronic haemodialysis treatment | Active comparator | Procedure: Arteriovenous fistula creation for chronic haemodialysis treatment |
| Tunneled cuffed catheter insertion for chronic haemodialysis treatment | Experimental | Device: Tunneled cuffed catheter (TCC) will be implanted for chronic haemodialysis treatment |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 99 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Aged ≥60 years or <60 years with a CCI Score >6
- Patients with CKD G5 A1-3 with indication for hemodialysis
- Stable clinical condition
- Eligibility for both arteriovenous fistula on the upper extremities and TCC
- Availability for follow-up
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Uncontrolled infection and/or CRP >5 mg/dl (normal <0.5 mg/dl) at screening
- Poor overall health or malignancy not in remission at screening
- Major surgery within 12 weeks before screening
- Pre-existent vascular access
- Patient not eligible for any one of the vascular access options
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Tunneled cuffed catheter (TCC) will be implanted for chronic haemodialysis treatmentIn this study we will compare TCCs with arteriovenous fistulas. In our hypothesis, TCCs will be superior to arteriovenous fistulas , because incidence of the main disadvantages of TCC, infection and low flow rates, have been reduced significantly since implantation techniques and product quality of TCC, hygiene protocols and lock solutions for TCC have steadily been improved over the last decade. | Device | Tunneled cuffed catheter insertion for chronic haemodialysis treatment |
| Arteriovenous fistula creation for chronic haemodialysis treatmentIn this arm arteriovenous fistulas will be created for chronic haemodialysis treatment. | Procedure or surgery | Arteriovenous fistula creation for chronic haemodialysis treatment |
Primary outcome
The composite primary end-point is any access related complication (loss of access, infection and/or thrombosis)
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 52 weeks
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 16 Jun 2026.
- Background: PubMed 24296629Vachharajani TJ, Moist LM, Glickman MH, Vazquez MA, Polkinghorne KR, Lok CE, Lee TC. Elderly patients with CKD--dilemmas in dialysis therapy and vascular access. Nat Rev Nephrol. 2014 Feb;10(2):116-22. doi: 10.1038/nrneph.2013.256. Epub 2013 Dec 3.
- Background: PubMed 17702726Lok CE. Fistula first initiative: advantages and pitfalls. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2007 Sep;2(5):1043-53. doi: 10.2215/CJN.01080307. Epub 2007 Aug 16. No abstract available.
- Background: PubMed 12566673Ridao-Cano N, Polo JR, Polo J, Perez-Garcia R, Sanchez M, Gomez-Campdera FJ. Vascular access for dialysis in the elderly. Blood Purif. 2002;20(6):563-8. doi: 10.1159/000066961.
- Background: PubMed 32778223Lok CE, Huber TS, Lee T, Shenoy S, Yevzlin AS, Abreo K, Allon M, Asif A, Astor BC, Glickman MH, Graham J, Moist LM, Rajan DK, Roberts C, Vachharajani TJ, Valentini RP; National Kidney Foundation. KDOQI Clinical Practice Guideline for Vascular Access: 2019 Update. Am J Kidney Dis. 2020 Apr;75(4 Suppl 2):S1-S164. doi: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2019.12.001. Epub 2020 Mar 12.
- Background: PubMed 14582045Xue JL, Dahl D, Ebben JP, Collins AJ. The association of initial hemodialysis access type with mortality outcomes in elderly Medicare ESRD patients. Am J Kidney Dis. 2003 Nov;42(5):1013-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ajkd.2003.07.004.
- Background: PubMed 17986697Coresh J, Selvin E, Stevens LA, Manzi J, Kusek JW, Eggers P, Van Lente F, Levey AS. Prevalence of chronic kidney disease in the United States. JAMA. 2007 Nov 7;298(17):2038-47. doi: 10.1001/jama.298.17.2038.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Tunneled cuffed catheter (TCC) will be implanted for chronic haemodialysis treatment and Arteriovenous fistula creation for chronic haemodialysis treatment in people with End Stage Renal Failure, Hemodialysis and Vascular Access, run by Medical University of Vienna.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 16 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Gürkan Sengölge, Assoc. Prof (+43 1 40400 43890, guerkan.sengoelge@meduniwien.ac.at), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
The composite primary end-point is any access related complication (loss of access, infection and/or thrombosis) (time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 52 weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07649083, which also lists 6 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 16 Jun 2026.