Venous Access for Hemodialysis – Part 2
In the optimal situation of a patient needing a dialysis catheter, the patient will present early enough that the surgeon can place a permanent access in advance of dialysis. However, more commonly patients present with an acute need for dialysis that requires temporary dialysis access via a percutaneous catheter.
As the majority of these patients will go on to require chronic dialysis, it is vital that temporary access catheters not compromise the anatomy required for a successful permanent access procedure. The preferred sites for temporary access catheter placement are the internal jugular veins or the femoral veins. The subclavian veins should be avoided if at all possible.
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