I'm Nervous About Getting a Dialysis Catheter: What's Involved?

Your treatment plan for kidney disease often includes hemodialysis. If you’re planning a procedure for dialysis catheter placement, knowing what to expect in advance can ease any worries you might have about the process.

At Vascular & Interventional Specialists, located in Miami, Florida, we offer outpatient catheter placements to create the access point you need for dialysis. Our highly skilled surgeons also specialize in dialysis access management services to lower your risk for catheter-related complications.

Ahead of your procedure, we provide guidance to help you prepare for catheter placement. We also offer an overview below so you know what you can expect during and after your appointment.

The purpose of a dialysis catheter

A dialysis catheter is a flexible tube that provides direct access to your veins during hemodialysis.

During hemodialysis, blood flows out of your body through the catheter and into a dialysis machine. The machine filters excess fluids and toxins from your blood when your kidneys no longer can.

Our providers offer consultations to evaluate your specific needs for dialysis. We may recommend a dialysis catheter if you’re not a candidate for an arteriovenous (AV) graft or an AV fistula — two other types of dialysis access points.

What to expect during dialysis catheter placement

Our Vascular & Interventional Specialists team offers dialysis catheter placement procedures on an outpatient basis, so you can expect to go home the same day.

During your appointment, we help you get comfortable on an exam table and deliver sedative medications to keep you calm and relaxed through an intravenous (IV) line in your arm. We also provide a local anesthetic at the placement site of the catheter to prevent pain.

Our physicians make a small incision in the treatment area and use advanced fluoroscopy (X-ray technology) to guide the catheter into a vein. Fluoroscopy provides real-time images of your veins to ensure our providers position the catheter correctly.

When your catheter placement is complete, we cover the incision with a clean bandage. You need to spend a brief time recovering from the sedatives before you can go home to rest. For your safety, you need someone to drive you after your procedure.

Tips for caring for your dialysis catheter after placement

Many people experience temporary swelling and bruising at the catheter insertion site. These issues typically resolve within a few days, and you will begin to feel more comfortable with the catheter in place.

Vascular & Interventional Specialists offers in-office and home dialysis treatments to filter your blood as needed. Our providers work closely with you at each dialysis appointment to ensure successful treatment when managing kidney disease.

Through dialysis access management, we continue to monitor the function of your catheter. Our team also teaches you how to keep the catheter clean and address issues like blockages so your access point remains functional and in good condition for future hemodialysis treatments.

Call Vascular & Interventional Specialists in Miami, Florida, today to schedule a dialysis catheter consultation or book an appointment online.