Tunneled hemodialysis catheters: What do nephrologists need to know?†

Abstract

Even though many positive changes were ushered in by the KDOQI guidelines and the Fistula First Breakthrough Initiative, tunneled hemodialysis catheters remain an essential piece of the dialysis access puzzle. Their use is, however, attended by a multitude of complications and morbidity of which the general nephrologist must be aware. The purpose of this article is to review for the general nephrologist the infectious and non-infectious problems that often complicate the use of hemodialysis catheters.