[Prolonged use of the femoral catheter as a temporary access for hemodialysis]

Cannulation of the femoral vein is the safest method of acute vascular access. It is recommended the removal of the femoral catheter after 72 h. The trial was undertaken, if it is possible a safe prolonged use of the femoral cannulation. The observations were performed in 70 patients (31 F, 39 M, age 3-70 years) with acute and chronic renal failure (RF). The femoral catheter was left in place for the period from 7 to 104 days, mean 21 days. None complications occurred in the group of 16 patients in whose the cannula was left up to 14 days. Bt duration of the cannulation above 15 days (54 patients) exist site infections appeared in 10 patients, catheter thrombosis in 12 patients and fiber in 6 patients (all with the catheter in place above 21 days). Noteworthly chronic RF patients were dialysed mostly on the ambulatory basis. Femoral catheter can be left safely in place for 14 days.