In a case of advanced renal damage, when the kidneys are no longer able to adequately purify the blood of the body’s own toxins, artificial haemodialysis is necessary. For this purpose, a special vascular access is necessary, over which a sufficiently large volume of blood can flow and which can be safely used in the long term. The blood is removed for haemodialysis and then returned to the circulation. These accesses must be artificially created through surgery.
The necessity and timing of dialysis, as well as the placing of a dialysis access, are determined in close cooperation with the attending kidney specialists (nephrologists) and individually adapted to the wishes and needs of the patient. Before the operation, a vascular assessment is carried out by means of an ultrasound examination.
In acute situations, e.g. acute kidney failure, it may be necessary as an interim solution to insert a temporary (transitory) dialysis catheter (atrial catheter), which can be used directly for dialysis. This catheter can be implanted directly into a large vein, but can also be inserted less intrusively and almost invisibly (tunnelled) from the outside for longer periods of time.
