Use of the Femoral Vein as Insertion Site for Tunneled Hemodialysis Catheters
Use of the Femoral Vein as Insertion Site for Tunneled Hemodialysis Catheters
The femoral vein provides an alternative access site for insertion of tunneled hemodialysis catheters when conventional sites are not available. Tunneled femoral hemodialysis catheters have low primary patency rates and significant complications. Catheter retraction is a unique and common problem. However, the use of the femoral vein remains acceptable in those patients who have limited options for long-term hemodialysis.ABSTRACT
Contributor Notes
Abigail Falk, MD is a intervention radiologist of the Access Ambulatory Center, Brooklyn, New York, an Outpatient center specializing in vascular access for hemodialysis, catheters and ports. Dr. Falk was the Principal Investigator Hemodialysis Access Research program from October 1998 to June 2003, Mount Sinai Medical Center. She has recently presented at the AVA's 17th Annual Conference in Atlanta “Intravascular Stents: Use in Maintaining Vessel Patency and Implications for Vascular Access Device Placement” and “Working With Your Interventional Radiologist”.