Catheter, hemodialysis

A venous catheter used for hemodialysis (dialysis of the blood).

A hemodialysis catheter is a type of central venous catheter.

It may be inserted into the subclavian, internal jugular, or femoral veins.

Subclavian catheters generally may be used for 2 to 6 weeks.

Hemodialysis catheters are often for relatively short-term use because of an acute need for dialysis or because chronic dialysis is just starting.

Long-term access for hemodialysis may be provided by subcutaneous arteriovenous fistulas in which an artery (the radial artery) is surgically anastomosed (connected) to a vein (the cephalic vein).

However, after this procedure is done, it takes 6 to 8 weeks for the forearm veins to dilate and arterialize to be suitable for repeated puncture and hence for long-term hemodialysis.