Skip to main content
RACS ASC 2024

Central Venous catheters for dialysis: Friend or Foe

Invited Paper

Watch The Presentation

Presentation Description

Institution: Westmead Hospital - NSW, Australia

Central Venous Catheters (CVC) for Dialysis an established but grossly over & misused modality in ESRF. CVC morbidity: 1. Destruction of Central Veins: (DVT, Central Vein Occlusion, Arm swelling, SVC Syndrome, AVF malfunction or failure). 2. Line Sepsis & sequelae 3. CVC Malfunction: Fibrin Sheath, occlusion, displacement, fracture 4. CVC Revision: Arterial injury, pneumothorax Avoiding CVC problems: a. DON’T Use CVCs! Pre-emptive Dialysis Systems, Urgent Start Seldinger PD (USSPD), forced AVF maturation. b. Appropriate CVC use: NO L sided CVCs!!; DO use temporary femoral lines, R SCV & tunnelled lines. c. Correct placement (US & Xray guidance), correct care, correct troubleshoot CVC appropriate when: 1. Life expectancy < 1 year 2. Life expectancy, 1 - 2 years & difficult Access 3. Emergency dialysis 4. Where AVF is contra-indicated: Arterial Steal, poor cardiac reserve, fragile skin & PD not an option. Inappropriate CVC use: 1. ~all L Sided CVCs!! 2. When PD / USSPD is an alternative 3. When Dialysis Access can be provided / restored by urgent Endovascular fistuloplasty or maturation. Why no L sided CVCs : Because of the non-linear anatomy of L sided CVCs, they: 1. Rapidly (days) & reliably destroy L sided Central Veins 2. Morbidity of L upper limb edema, 3. SVC syndrome when R side also damaged, 4. Make L upper limb unsuitable for AVF creation / use How to keep CVCs on the R hand side when: 1. R Jugular stenosis / occlusion: Cross the lesion endovascularly OR enter the SVC via the anterior or external Jugular OR use the R SCV. 2. R Jugular CVC sepsis: Remove CVC, Antibiotics, bridging dialysis thru Femoral line, re-insert R CVC. 3. R Jugular thrombosis: Anticoagulate, cross thrombus & place a R CVC.

Speakers