If you are planning to have or are currently receiving haemodialysis for chronic kidney disease (CKD), you may need to have a dialysis catheter inserted into your body if a fistula or graft formation has not been possible or appropriate for you. A dialysis catheter will allow your healthcare team to access your blood so that it can be filtered by the haemodialysis machine. There are different types of dialysis catheters and your healthcare team will discuss which is the best option for you. This may depend on how quickly you need to start dialysis.
A tunnelled haemodialysis catheter is a soft plastic tube, which is inserted into one of the large veins in your neck or, occasionally, in your groin. This catheter gives your dialysis team access to your blood so that it can be filtered by the haemodialysis machine. Your blood is then returned to your body through the catheter.
The catheter is about the width of a standard pencil and twice as long. It will pass under your skin (tunnelled) for a short distance, to the front of your chest (if it goes in through your neck), or the front of your thigh (if it goes in your groin), before coming out of the skin. The external part of the catheter may be kept in place with stitches. The part of the catheter running under your skin has a small cuff of material which helps your body to form scar tissue. This helps to reduce the risk of infection and keep the line in place after the stitches are removed.
A tunnelled catheter can stay in place for as long as it is required. This may be until an arteriovenous fistula has been created and ready for use, or, occasionally your renal team may decide that the catheter is the best form of dialysis access for you and will keep it in for longer.
Copyright 2023 By Dr. Gaurav Bhandari.