Patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) requiring hemodialysis treatment need vascular access inform of either temporary catheterization or permanent AV fistula
The catheter used for hemodialysis is a tunneled catheter because it is placed under the skin. There are two types of tunneled catheters: cuffed or non-cuffed. Non-cuffed tunneled catheters are used for emergencies and for short periods (up to 3 weeks
Catheters have two openings inside; one is a red (arterial) opening to draw blood from your vein and out of your body into the dialysis pathway and the other is a blue (venous) opening that allows cleaned blood to return to your body.
HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR CATHETER
It is of paramount importance for every patient undergoing hemodialysis treatment to know how to take care of their vascular access to avoid complications some of which can be fatal.
Good care of vascular access will prevent complications such as infections and clotting, furthermore the catheter or AV fistula will last for long
The following are recommended steps important steps to take to ensure good care and functioning of vascular access
- Keep the catheter dressing clean and dry.
- Maintain cleanness of vascular access site and change the dressing at each dialysis session. It is also important to Keep an emergency dressing kit at home, in case you need to change your dressing in between treatments. Ask your dialysis care team to teach you how to change dressings in an emergency.
- You should Never remove the cap on the end of your catheter. Air must not enter the catheter as this can lead to fatal air embolism.
- Wear a mask over your nose and mouth anytime the catheter is opened to prevent bacteria from entering the catheter and your bloodstream. Professionals changing the dressing should wear a mask and gloves as well.
- The caps and the clamps of your catheter should be kept tightly closed when not being used for dialysis. Only your dialysis care team should use your dialysis catheter to draw blood or to give medications or fluids.
- If the area around your catheter feels sore or looks red, call your dialysis care team at once. Ask your dialysis team about signs and symptoms that require immediate attention.
- Know the signs and symptoms of complications such as infections and clotting. This will be taught by your dialysis team
- The signs and symptoms of a catheter infection include, Fever, Chills, Drainage from the catheter exit site, Redness or tenderness around the catheter exit site, General feeling of weakness and illness
What can I do to keep my catheter working well?
-- Stay for your full treatment time
-- Keep your dialysis appointments
-- Arrive on time for your hemodialysis treatments
-- How can I tell if my catheter is not working?
-- What is the flow rate my doctor ordered for me?
-- Why does the flow rate for my catheter need to be at this level?
-- If my flow rate should go down, when will I be given clot-dissolving medication?
-- Will the clot-dissolving medication interrupt my dialysis treatment? If so, what will happen to the rest of my treatment?
-- How will you put the clot dissolving medication in my catheter? How long do I have to wait for it to work?
-- What are the signs and symptoms of infection?
Our Team
Dr.Versus K. Mboneko
Nephrologist
Dr. Hawa
General Practitioner
Mohammad Abdullah
Dialysis Technician
Happiness E. Missay
Lab Technologist
Constancia C. Mutabuzi
Pharmacist