Lock solutions in dialysis
Ingredients, efficacy, recommendations
Central-venous catheters (CVC) are commonly used for patients with permanent kidney failure. A catheter implanted into a central vein facilitates dialysis on a regular basis. Throughout this treatment, medical staff must minimise the risk of catheter-associated infections as far as possible. This is where TauroLock™ comes into effect: Combining taurolidine and citrate with heparin or urokinase, we offer lock solutions to meet the needs of dialysis patients.
- protection against infections
- prevention of blood clotting
- safe application in various contexts
On this site, you can read more about the usage and benefits of TauroLock™ solutions for permanent catheters required in dialysis therapy.
TauroLock™ lock solutions for haemodialysis
Monitoring vascular access devices (VAD), you need to consider two main objectives: First, the catheter must not come into contact with bacteria and fungi. Second, it is essential to avoid blood clotting. Our lock solutions prevent the formation of a biofilm in CVCs during dialysis treatment. As a result, both objectives are met:
TauroLock™
kills more than 500 types of germs.
TauroLock™
helps to maintain an adequate blood flow rate.
This twofold efficacy relies on a combination of taurolidine (antimicrobial) and citrate (anticoagulant) as the basis for our catheter lock solutions applicable in dialysis. Depending on the patients’ individual conditions, there are different variations available.
All ingredients named above have been approved and recommended in current guidelines (ERBP, DGfN, UK Ren. Ass., SF2H, and other national guidelines).
Please note that all TauroLock™ products must be administered by trained staff with medical expertise and experience. Based on this premise, we advise the following procedure:
1. Before dialysis:
- Remove TauroLock™/ TauroLock™-Hep500/ TauroLock™-U25.000 and residual blood from the catheter.
- Flush all lumens of the access device with 10 ml of saline and a syringe according to the push-pause-technique.
- Start dialysis.
2. After dialysis:
- Flush both lumens with 10 ml of saline using the push-pause-technique.
- Gently tap the ampoule’s neck to remove the lock solution.
- Tilt the ampoule so that you can see a white dot on top and quickly break off the neck.
- When using TauroLock™-U25.000:
Reconstitute the urokinase that is delivered in a separate vial with TauroLock™ withdrawn from the ampoule. TauroLock™-U25.000 must be used immediately after reconstitution. - Draw the TauroLock™ solution from the ampoule into a sterile syringe.
3. In-between treatment sessions:
- To ensure the solution’s prophylactic efficacy, slowly instil a volume sufficient to fill the entire lumens of the VAD.
- You may check the correct filling volume of each lumen as indicated on the device, or obtain instructions from the respective manufacturer.
More information
Download instructions for use for different types of catheter lock solutions in dialysis:
Download instructions for use of TauroLock™
Download instructions for use of TauroLock™-Hep500
Download instructions for use of TauroLock™-U25.000
Download DGfN recommendations for TauroLock™, TauroLock™-HEP500 & TauroLock™-U25.000 in dialysis
Download TauroLock™ 2 + 1 protocol, 2 x weekly TauroLock™-HEP500, 1 x weekly TauroLock™-U25.000
Download "Taurolidine-Citrate-Heparin – the superior lock solution"
Download flyer "Taurolock™-HEP500 in dialysis – the best solution down the line"