Comparison of the patency rates of catheter placement via the right external jugular vein route versus the right brachiocephalic vein route in patients experiencing tunneled-cuffed catheter loss.

Introduction: The aim of this study is to compare the patency rates of catheter placement via cannulation of right external jugular vein (EJV) versus the right brachiocephalic (BCV) in patients experiencing tunneled-cuffed catheter (TCC) loss.

Method: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 30 patients admitted to our department due to TCC loss. Among them, 11 patients underwent catheter reinsertion via the right EJV, while 19 patients underwent catheter reinsertion via the right BCV. We collected and compared the data of these patients.

Results: In both groups of patients, there were no cases of pneumothorax, severe adjacent artery injury, or mediastinal hematoma observed. The one-year primary patency rates of the catheters in the EVJ group and the BCV group were 54.55% and 36.84%, and the primary patency rates of two years were found to be 27.27% and 21.05% respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the patency rates at both 1 and 2 years (p = 0.55, p = 0.71).

Conclusion: In the face of patients experiencing TCC loss, the practice of replacing dialysis catheters via the right EJV and right BCV routes emerges as a safe and efficacious alternative strategy. Notably, no difference in catheter patency rates is observed between these divergent access routes.