Catheter hemodialysis is an unfortunate but necessary option for patients with end-stage
kidneys. Patients on chronic catheter hemodialysis often slowly exhaust veins in the
neck and chest, necessitating use of unconventional veins such as the femoral veins,
translumbar inferior vena cava, hepatic veins, or recanalized or collateral veins.
Recanalized or collateral veins are an attractive option because using these veins
preserves the limited remaining access sites. Patients favor this approach because
catheter care is simplified; catheters inserted in these veins appear identical to
catheters inserted in the internal or external jugular veins.
Catheter hemodialysis - collateral veins - recanalized veins - central venous access
