Use of the Hickman Catheter as Permanent Vascular Access for Hemodialysis

Abstract

Nineteen patients in whom it was impossible to create an arteriovenous (AV) fistula were hemodialyzed with adult Hickman catheters as the sole vascular access. Catheter survival was 45% at 1 year, with eight patients requiring two or three catheters for the continuation of their treatment. The probability of a patient still being dialyzed with a Hickman catheter at 1 year was 69%. The calculated risk of developing the most frequent complications was 0.07/100 catheter days for sepsis, 0.4/100 catheter days for thrombosis, and 0.06/100 catheter days for outflow obstruction. These figures seem quite acceptable, and the use of Hickman catheters as permanent vascular access is warranted in this category of difficult patient.