Femoral positioning of Tesio catheters for hemodialysis.

Vascular access may be of crucial importance in long-term dialyzed patients when traditional blood access fails. Long-term central vascular access devices are usually inserted in the internal jugular or subclavian veins but thrombosis may be the major factor limiting their long-term use. To solve this problem the Tesio caheter is one of the most commonly recommended tools for long-term use in RD patients, and is normally placed in the neck veins. In this study the femoral vein is indicated as an alternative site for positioning the Tesio catheter. The 'high' exit (abdominal) reported here presents some advantages for the patient who can then walk without difficulties while maintaining a high blood flow that is similar to those achieved with catheters implanted in other sites.