Hemodialysis Catheter Placement Specialist
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Humble Vascular Surgical Center
Interventional Nephrologist & Interventional Vascular Specialist located in Humble, TX
When your kidneys aren’t functioning, you might need hemodialysis to keep you healthy. The providers at Humble Vascular Surgical Center offer hemodialysis catheter placement services at their office in Humble, Texas, to situate the catheter you need to complete your treatments. The medical team also ensures the catheter is working without complications like clots and infection to protect your health. To find out more about hemodialysis catheter placement, book an appointment online or by calling Humble Vascular Surgical Center today.
Hemodialysis Catheter Placement Q&A
What is hemodialysis?
Hemodialysis is a treatment for kidney failure to clean your blood and remove excess fluids from your body when your kidneys no longer can.
During hemodialysis, your blood travels outside your body and through a dialysis machine. This machine runs your blood through a specialized filter that works much like your kidneys. It filters out fluids and waste products before returning the blood to your body.
Typically, treatments occur several times a week for several hours at a time. You might also need to do hemodialysis at home based on your specific health needs.
What is hemodialysis catheter placement?
Before your blood can get hemodialysis treatments, you need a procedure to create an access point, such as an AV fistula or AV graft. If your access point isn’t ready for use before your dialysis treatment, you need a hemodialysis catheter placement.
The catheter is known as a tunneled catheter because it goes under your skin. Non-cuffed tunneled catheters are useful for short periods of time and emergencies. If you need a hemodialysis catheter for longer than three weeks, the Humble Vascular Surgical Center offers tunneled cuffed catheters when an AV graft or fistula isn’t ready.
The catheters have two openings — one to draw blood from your vein and take it out of your body, and the other to help the cleaned blood return to your body.
Are there risks associated with hemodialysis catheter placement?
It’s very important that you take care of your hemodialysis catheter to prevent infection and other complications. However, even with a high level of care, you might still have issues with the catheter, such as:
Infections
Infections can occur if bacteria get into the catheter. Signs that you might have an infection include fever, chills, and drainage from the exit site of your catheter.
Blood clots
Blood clots can form at the opening of your catheter and cause your blood to flow more slowly than it should.
Early treatment of both infections and clots is essential to protect your catheter and ensure your hemodialysis treatments work as they should. You might need clot-busting medications or a course of antibiotics to protect the integrity of your hemodialysis catheter.
To learn more about hemodialysis catheter placement services, call Humble Vascular Surgical Center or book an appointment online today.