A Proposed Simple and Accurate Technique for Optimal Long-Term Hemodialysis Catheter Tip Placement

• DOI: 10.5334/jbsr.1474
• Publication Date: 2018-01-31T23:17:53Z
• Authors: Sammy Tawk; Elie Barakat; Frank Hammer
• Keywords: Interventional radiology; Catheter; R895-920; technique; Catheter; dialysis; technique; interventional radiology; Medical physics. Medical radiology. Nuclear medicine; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; interventional radiology; Technical Note; Technique; dialysis; Dialysis

We describe a simple ultrasound (US)-guided technique for accurate anatomical right atrium localization prior to permanent hemodialysis catheter insertion. It is used in patients for whom a permanent hemodialysis catheter will be inserted through an internal jugular vein access, in order to have the functional catheter tip located at the mid-level of the right atrium. In this technique, the right atrium is localized on US via left intercostal approach prior to catheter insertion under fluoroscopic guidance.