Accesos venosos para hemodiálisis: abordaje yugular

Abstract

It is not an uncommon event that patients with stabilized kidney failure or healthy individuals develop a sudden deterioration in their kidney function requiring dialysis, while lacking an adequate vascular access. In these situations, the implant of a double-lumen tunneled catheter within the internal jugular vein should be considered the best option to start hemodialysis.

The vascular approach must be practiced preferentially on the right side, under ultrasound control and fluoroscopy guidance to verify the correct location of the tip of the catheter in the right atrium. Catheters with outer caliber between 13.5 and 15.5 Fr can provide adequate blood flow for hemodialysis.

As the use of different types of anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugs is so widely extended, it is necessary, before implanting the catheter, to check the coagulation parameters and platelet count; and, when required, the establishment of specific corrective actions to prevent hemorrhagic complications during the implant of the catheter should be undertaken.

Gaining vascular access may involve complications. Infection or sepsis is not a rarity, and its prevention requires carrying out the procedure with strict adherence to the rules for an aseptic insertion of the implant, and performing an adequate care and cleaning after every use of the catheter. Anti-microbial solutions for sealing the lumen are also effective in this context, but if an infection develops, the catheter must be removed and an appropriate antibiotic regimen must be established. Other situations that may involve removal of the catheter are: malfunction, breaking, venous thrombosis and central venous stenosis or occlusion. However, there are cases of venous thrombosis in which, before removing the catheter, direct fibrinolysis may be tried. Similarly, in selected cases of central venous stenosis or occlusion, pneumatic dilatation with balloon catheter (angioplasty, APT) may be tried (once or more) to restore the venous caliber. Finally, in very infrequent situations in which APT fails, it is possible to implant a stent to resolve the stenosis; however, as it is frequently not effective in the medium term, it should only be considered as a last resort.

In conclusion, jugular access for dialysis in patients without a competent internal arterio-venous fistula is an optimum choice. Although it presents a wide range of complications, if being expected, an effective and appropriate treatment may be safely established. As complications involving complex instrumentation, such as APT or stenting, show a low frequency (below 3%), jugular access can be considered a safe, comfortable and effective access for dialysis procedures.