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Complications of catheters: tunneled and nontunneled

Hemender Singh Vats1

  • 1Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 52713, USA. hvats@uwhealth.org

Advances in Chronic Kidney Disease
|May 15, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Central venous catheters are widely used for hemodialysis initiation in the US, despite guidelines recommending alternatives. This review details the acute and chronic complications associated with these essential, yet problematic, dialysis access catheters.

Area of Science:

  • Nephrology
  • Vascular Access
  • Dialysis Technology

Background:

  • Central venous catheters are the primary vascular access for over 80% of US hemodialysis patients.
  • NKF-KDOQI guidelines advocate for reduced reliance on catheters for hemodialysis.
  • Tunneled dialysis catheters present significant disadvantages despite some benefits.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To comprehensively review the complications associated with tunneled dialysis catheters.
  • To highlight the risks of using central venous catheters for hemodialysis access.
  • To inform clinical practice regarding hemodialysis vascular access.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of complications related to tunneled dialysis catheters.
  • Analysis of acute and chronic complications.
  • Synthesis of current evidence on catheter-related issues.

Main Results:

  • Tunneled dialysis catheters are associated with numerous acute and chronic complications.
  • The disadvantages of these catheters often outweigh their limited advantages.
  • Complications impact patient safety and treatment efficacy.

Conclusions:

  • Central venous catheters remain a critical but complication-prone hemodialysis access method.
  • Further research and adherence to guidelines are needed to minimize catheter dependence.
  • Understanding and managing catheter complications is crucial for hemodialysis patients.

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