Retrospective review of the development and implementation of a bedside tunneled dialysis catheter program

Background: The decision to place a subcutaneously tunneled catheter is an infection prevention strategy for long term venous access allowing the proceduralist to access a vein and relocate the catheter exit site to a region on the body where care and maintenance can be safely performed. Subcutaneously tunneled centrally inserted dialysis catheter (ST-CIDC) placement is commonly performed in patients with renal disease and is traditionally performed with fluoroscopy in the interventional radiology suite or the operating theater. However, today's interventional radiologists and surgeons perform advanced invasive procedures that can be time-consuming resulting in delays in the scheduling of elective tunneled catheter placements.

Methods: In this retrospective case series, we present data from a quality improvement initiative aimed at integrating available evidence for bedside tunneled dialysis catheter placement with electrocardiograph (ECG) tip positioning, to expedite care, improve patient safety outcomes, and reduce healthcare costs associated with the procedure.

Results: Most patients in the study had end-stage renal disease (59%) or acute kidney injury (37%) and were receiving placement for the first time (91%). The right jugular vein was cannulated in 84% of the placements and rates of post-insertion complications were <1%, regardless of the vessel cannulated. Performing bedside tunneled dialysis catheter placement resulted in a cost savings of $385,938.76 over a 2-year period.

Conclusions: The placement of ultrasound guided tunneled dialysis catheters at the bedside following a pre-procedural evaluation of the right jugular, brachiocephalic, and femoral veins is a safe option resulting in expedited patient care, decreased resource utilization, and significant cost savings. Non-bedside techniques performed in interventional radiology, or the operating room should remain a consideration for patients requiring left sided venous access, signs of central stenosis, a history of multiple tunneled catheters, or patients requiring moderate sedation outside of the ICU.