How long does a permanent catheter be used for dialysis?

Posted on Fri, 13 May 2016

Question: How long can we depend on permanent Catheter for dialysis. This for the patient who is at the age of 83. was on dialysis for last 15 months using AVF as access. Now AVF is blocked. No feasibility of creating a new AVF.

Please advise...

Answered by Dr. Sandip Kabra (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Maximum 4 to 6 weeks.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I can understand your concerns.

Putting a permanent catheter through a neck vein can be used for maximum 4 to 6 weeks for dialysis if proper care is taken.

Also,be assured that there are other ways of doing the dialysis if there is no longer AVF is available or
there is feasibility of AVF
These include:

1) Using surgical techniques called transposition of vein or using a synthetic graft (artificial tube) to create a fistula in the arm.

2). Using peritoneal dialysis-
Inserting a tube into the abdomen and doing dialysis by filling and emptying abdomen periodically using dialysis fluid.

Your treating urologist will know about it.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Deepak