What is Central Line Access? (Preparing for Hemodialysis)
Your kidneys remove waste from your blood. When your kidneys fail, they can no longer do this important work. Hemodialysis is a treatment that can take over the job of keeping your blood clean. Before this treatment can be done, an access (way to get your blood) is needed. One type of access is a central line access (also called a central venous access). This is a small, soft tube (catheter) placed into a vein in your neck or chest. A central line access is often temporary.
Placing the catheter
You will be given medication to prevent pain during the placement.
A small opening is made in the skin over your vein.
One end of the catheter is inserted a few inches into the vein until the tip is close to the heart.
The other end of the catheter extends a few inches out from your skin. This end is clamped off when not being used for hemodialysis.
Caring for your access
Problems such as infection may make the access useless. Then the catheter will have to be removed and a new one placed in another vein. Your nurse will show you how to care for your access to help it last. Follow these tips:
Wash your hands often.
Try not to touch the catheter.
Don't let anything (such as clothing) rub or pull on the catheter.
Don't get your catheter wet unless you're told it's OK.
Watching your problems
Call your doctor or nurse right away if you have any of these problems: The skin around your access bleeds or oozes or becomes red or tender
- You develop a fever over 101 degrees F
- The sutures become loose or the catheter falls out
- Either arm becomes swollen
About Hemodialysis
Hemodialysis takes 2 to 4 hours. It is done about 3 times a week in a hospital or hemodialysis center. During hemodialysis, two tubes are connected to your central line access.
Blood flows through one tube to the artifical kidney (dialyzer). Only about 1 cup of blood is taken from your body at a time. The blood is cleansed, then returned to your body through the other tube.