TauroLock™ is a catheter lock solution for tunneled and non-tunneled central venous access systems. It has to be instilled in the device lumens between treatments in order to make the internal flow passages resistant to clot formation and hostile to bacterial and fungal growth.
FAQ
What is the nature of TauroLock™?
What are the ingredients of TauroLock™?
Active ingredients of TauroLock™ are the antimicrobial compound (cyclo)-taurolidine and citrate (4%) as an anticoagulant.
Why should I use TauroLock™?
For preventing infections and clot formation in catheters and port systems. Citrate (4%) alone acts only as an anticoagulant and has no bactericidal activity. Therefore a contamination with microbes may cause bacteraemia and catheter sepsis. The use of TauroLock™ prevents of the development of a biofilm and improves the patency of the catheter or port system.
What are the side effects of TauroLock™?
No topical or systemic side effects are known. If TauroLock™ is quickly instilled into the access device mild hypocalcaemic symptoms (e. g. metallic taste) might occur caused by the contents of 4% citrate.
How to use TauroLock™?
- Flush the device with a minimum of 10 mL of saline.
- Withdraw TauroLock™ from the container using an appropriate syringe
- Instill TauroLock™ slowly (not more than 1 mL per second, infants and children less than two years of age not more than 1 mL per 5 seconds) into the access device in a quantity sufficient to fill the lumen completely. The filling volume has to be strictly respected. Consult the manufacturer’s instructions for the specific fill volume. TauroLock™ will remain inside the access device until the next treatment.
- If aspiration of TauroLock™ is needed and possible it should be withdrawn from the access device and discarded prior to initiation of the next treatment. TauroLock™-Hep100 or Hep500 has to be aspirated before the next dialysis or treatment and discarded.
- Flush the device with a minimum of 10 mL of saline.
What happens if TauroLock™ enters the bloodstream?
The antimicrobial ingredient has an extremely short half-life within the blood. It is metabolised into the naturally occurring amino acid taurine. No toxic effects are expected or reported after accidental instillation.
How can I order TauroLock™?
The exclusive distributor of TauroLock™ in Germany is Tauro-Implant GmbH in Winsen. For distributors in other countries please visit www.taurolock.com Or give message to info@tauropharm.de
What is the minimum order quantity of TauroLock™?
TauroLock™ catheter lock solution is available in 3 mL and 5 mL ampoules and 10 mL vials. For minimum orders please contact the respective distributor.
Are there different formulations (products) available for patients with recurrent flow problems?
Two ready to use TauroLock™ solutions contain 100 IU/mL of heparin (TauroLock™- Hep100) and 500 IU/mL of heparin (TauroLock™- Hep500) as an anticoagulant.
The most intensive prophylaxis against catheter occlusions is achieved with TauroLock™- U25.000 (contains 25.000 IU of urokinase). Flow problems are reduced significantly.
Does TauroLock™ interact with the catheter surface?
The activity of TauroLock™ on different catheter materials and surfaces were studied (polyurethane, silikon). All types of catheter showed no damage after long term interaction with TauroLock™.
Why is the concentration of citrate only 4%?
A concentration of 4% citrate is recommended by the FDA (USA). FDA stopped a product with a higher concentrated citrate solution (46.7%) in the year 2000. An over-instillation of less than 1 mL per lumen of a 30% citrate solution caused temporary cardiac arrest. (Punt CD, Boer WE, Cardiac arrest following injection of concentrated trisodium citrate, Clinical Nephrology 2008, 69 (4), 317-318). Also highly concentrated citrate solutions (46.7%) may cause embolic complications (Davenport A , Willicombe MK, Vernon K, Embolic complications from central venous hemodialysis catheters used with hypertonic citrate solution, American Journal of Kidney Diseases, 2010, 55, 348-351.
At the moment I use heparin as a lock solution - can I change to TauroLock™ without problems?
Patency problems have been reported occasionally after the instillation of TauroLock™ into catheters which had been locked with heparin before. The manufacturer therefore recommends the addition of 0.5 mL of heparin (5000 IU/mL) to TauroLock™ or the use of TauroLock™-Hep500 .
When should I use TauroLock™-Hep500 or TauroLock™-Hep100?
The doctor decides what product should be used instead of heparin as a lock solution. The current experiences with TauroLock™-Hep – products show that in dialysis catheters a solution containing heparin 5000 IU/mL can be replaced without problems by TauroLock™- Hep500. It turned out that TauroLock™- Hep500 is the gold standard in catheters of dialysis patients. TauroLock™-Hep100 is used in central venous access systems used in hematology/oncology patients. TauroLock™-Hep100 or Hep500 has to be aspirated before the next dialysis or treatment.
Can I use aspirated blood from catheters locked with TauroLock™ for coagulation tests?
Yes you can. After aspirating the lock solution the catheter is flushed with 10 mL of saline solution. Then blood is withdrawn in a sufficient amount. Traces of citrate do not influence the coagulation test.The test tube contains also 3,13 % of citrate solution. When TauroLock™-Hep500 or TauroLock™-Hep100 was used as a lock solution blood has to be withdrawn peripherally.