TEMPORARY DUAL CATHETER IN FEMORAL VEIN - EMERGENCY VASCULAR ACCESS FOR HEMODIALYSIS

Transient vascular access for hemodialysis is a daily problem in nephr ology. Internal jugular twin catheters using Canaud's technique is the method of reference, which we have applied since 1987. In 3 cases whe re the internal jugular route was impraticable, twin catheters via the femoral route were used. The catheter was placed by percutaneous rout e, at the bed-side, in rigorous aseptic conditions and with local anes thesia. The catheter emerge at mid-thigh. Mean placement time was 45 m n. The ideal site for distal end of the catheters is in the inferior v ena cava. No traumatic complication occurred during placement. No infe ctious episode was observed. All the catheters that were removed were sterile in culture. No thrombosis of femoral, iliac or inferior cava v eins were observed by echodoppler after removal of the catheters. In c onclusion, twin femoral catheters are a good alternative when jugular access is impossible or contraindicated.