Infection Rate of Tunneled Hemodialysis Catheters

Abstract

Aim: Tunneled hemodialysis catheters are frequently used for hemodialysis patients and provide temporary venous access. However, it causes complications such as catheter-related infection, pneumothorax and hematoma. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the infections, complications and catheter patency rates that developed after the use of tunnel catheters connected to three different access routes. Material and Methods: A total of 145 patients who underwent hemodialysis due to chronic renal failure and who were placed on permanent hemodialysis catheter were included. In this study, jugular vein route was used as the first choice for the dialysis access route, when other access routes were needed due to complications and infection, femoral vein route was the second choice, while subclavian vein route was the third choice. Results: The femoral vein group had the highest infection rate and the lowest patency rate (both p<0.001). The infection rate at the end of one year was 65.3%, 95.6%, and 64.0% for the jugular vein, femoral vein and subclavian vein, respectively. At the end of one year, patency rates for the jugular vein, subclavian vein and femoral vein were 57.3%, 6.7%, and 32.0%, respectively. Conclusion: Although the jugular vein is the first choice for venous entry in hemodialysis patients, femoral and subclavian veins are also used. In this study, the jugular vein was the best option in terms of patency rate and infection. The femoral vein, on the other hand, had the worst patency rate and was also the access route with the highest infection rate.