title: Successful use of a right atrial catheter for hemodialysis.
abstract: Maintenance of patent hemodialysis access is a major issue in the chronic dialysis population. Patients on chronic hemodialysis are at risk of progressive loss of possible sites for permanent vascular access. This issue becomes increasingly important in patients who are not suitable candidates for any other mode of renal replacement therapy for a variety of clinical reasons. When all conventional access sites are exhausted, a creative approach is often needed to establish an alternative vascular access for dialysis to maintain life. We report the placement of a tunneled dialysis catheter in the right atrium in such a patient. After 14 months, this catheter is still being used to deliver hemodialysis without any complications.
authors.affiliation: Divisions of Nephrology, University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri 65212, USA.
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Negoi
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schmaltz
authors.forename: Madhukar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Misra
mesh_terms: D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*