title: Percutaneous subclavian vein catheterization for hemodialysis: a report of 57 insertions.
abstract: The authors report an analysis of 57 subclavian vein catheterizations for hemodialysis. A total of 51 patients (34 men, 17 women) kept the Cobe single- and double-lumen catheters for 1,726 days. The youngest patient was eighteen and the oldest seventy-two years of age. There were no catheter-related deaths. Complications were encountered in 9 patients. The only life-threatening complication was cardiac arrest, which occurred during flushing of the catheter. The patient was successfully revived. The other complications were pneumothorax and hydrothorax in 1 patient, catheter site infection in 5 patients, and arrhythmias in 2 patients, which stopped after readjustment of the catheter tips. Their experience indicates that percutaneous subclavian vein catheterization is safe and provides quick access for hemodialysis with no morbidity and mortality if done correctly, patiently, and meticulously. The authors believe that this should be the first choice in patients with reversible renal failure and in patients with chronic renal failure, who are usually elderly and medically compromised, till a permanent vascular access is ready for use.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, King Faisal University Hospital, Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al-Mohaya
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sadat-Ali
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Al-Muhanna
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ibrahim-Saeed
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000379:methods*; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000379:methods*; D013350:Subclavian Vein