pCO2 Reveals Arteriovenous Fistula Recirculation in Bicarbonate Hemodialysis (RecirCO2lation Test).

We propose arterial pCO2 as test to discover vascular access recirculation (VAR) in bicarbonate hemodialysis (HD). We selected 30 HD patients with a ascertained well-functioning arteriovenous fistula (Control). In these patients, we artificially created VAR through the reversion of HD lines (Reversed). Results of the arterial gas analysis were collected at the start of HD (baseline) and after 5 min. At baseline, no differences of pH, pCO2 and HCO3 were found between the 2 groups. At 5 min, pCO2 increased from 38.1 ± 3.3 to 47.2 ± 6.3 mm Hg (p < 0.0001) in Reversed, whereas no increase was found in Control (p = 0.052). Areas under curve of pCO2-increase was 0.96 (0.91-1.00) and pCO2 at 5 min 0.92 (0.85-0.98). pCO2-increase >4.5 mm Hg showed sensitivity 86.7% and specificity 100% with positive predictive value (PPV) 100% and negative predictive value (NPV) 89%. A pCO2 value above 43 mm Hg at 5 min showed sensitivity 80%, specificity 90%, PPV 89%, NPV 82%. pCO2 increase >4.5 mm Hg and/or pCO2 at 5 min >43 mm Hg may accurately detect VAR.