Central Venous Catheter

There are 3 options for dialysis,

1. Internal Arteriovenous Fistula
2. Internal Arteriovenous Graft
3. Central Venous Catheter

Both AV fistula and AV graft require a surgeon to cut the arm open to modify the veins and arteries in there to create an access for the dialysis needle. This process is irreversible and side effects include loss of strength on the hand. If these procedures are not done, the blood flow will be too slow for effective dialysis.

The AV graft and fistula can only be used 1 month after the surgery to create it. The central venous catheter is an interim measure before eventually moving to dialysis using either the graft or fistula. As the catheter is inserted directly into the heart, one of the risks of long term use of this is the infection of the heart cardiac arrest and heart attack. The catheter can cause a blood clot within the heart which then triggers a heart attack or the stress of having a foreign body in the heart can cause the heart rhythms to go out of whack and cause cardiac arrest.

I was wheeled into the procedure room to have this tap installed in my chest for my dialysis.

The doctor sedated me. I was wide awake throughout the procedure. I remember a lot of pulling and a scanning device to ensure that the tubes are in the right places before stitching me up. A LOT of pulling. I deduced that the doctor is trying to separate my skin from my flesh so that the catheter can slide into the gap underneath.

The doctor and me were having a nice mundane conversation throughout the procedure. He did a nice job keeping me distracted.

I was then wheeled back into the ward and rested.

Went for my 1st dialysis session using the catheter and it worked perfectly. I was then scheduled for the thigh catheter removal the next morning.

The removal procedure was conducted in the ward. The doctors removed the stitches holding the catheter in place and pulled the thing out. He then applied a lot of pressure to ensure that there was no bleeding at the side and applied pressure bandage.

Strong pressure bandage + groin area = NOT A GOOD COMBINATION

But the only thing I was focused on is… the sole of my feet can finally touch the floor after 7 days…. I CAN GO TO THE TOILET ON MY OWN NOW.

And so this is how I began my 1 year dialysis process.