Tunnelled Femoral Vein Catheter for Long Term Haemodialysis in Exhausted Accesses; does High Tip Placement Differ than Low Tip Placement?

Abstract

Background: Tunneled dialysis catheters (TDCs) are inserted for hemodialysis (HD in patients with chronic kidney diseases (CKD), with failed arterio-venous fistula (AV). Tunneled femoral vein catheters are commonly used with exhausted internal jugular or subclavian veins catheters. Aim of study:To evaluate flow rate and complications associated with femoral vein catheters for long term HD and to compare the effectiveness of hemodialysis (HD) in cases of high tip versus low tip placement of the catheter.Patients and methods: 40 cases with the only vascular access is the femoral veins. The flow rate, complications and difference between high and low placement of the catheters were investigated.Results: Among the mean URR of the studied cases was 63.58 (±7.62 SD) with range (52-74.8), the mean Kt/V was 1.03 (±0.22 SD) with range (0.73-1.38) and the mean Kt/V was 238.5 (±33.51 SD) with range (182-297). Conclusion:The complication rate of femoral venous catheters appears to be acceptable. Flow rate is better in high tip placed catheters.