 After each hemodialysis HD session, patients assigned to 30TSC had their catheter lumens flushed with 0.9 sodium chloride and locked with a volume of 30 TSC solution equivalent to the catheter internal lumen. Patients assigned to heparin had their catheter lumens flushed with 0.9 sodium chloride and locked with a volume of 5000 UmL heparin equivalent to CVC internal lumen. Catheter care was according to international guidelines, including strict asepsis on insertion and exit-site dressing changes after each HD session by staff wearing masks and sterile gloves. 