A temporary hemodialysis catheter is a soft plastic tube placed into a large vein in the neck, chest or groin so blood can travel to a dialysis machine and back. It can be used the same day it's placed and is meant to bridge care until a longer-term access — a fistula or graft — is ready.
An urgent need to start dialysis — newly diagnosed kidney failure, acute kidney injury, severe fluid overload, or a dangerously high potassium level that hasn't responded to medication, or a fistula/graft that isn't ready, isn't working, or needs repair.
Bleeding or bruising at the insertion site, infection, and vein-related issues such as clotting or narrowing over time. Risks are minimised by ultrasound-guided placement and experienced vascular access teams.
Basic blood tests (including clotting status), a quick ultrasound check of the planned vein, and local anaesthetic at the bedside or in an interventional radiology suite. Because this is an urgent procedure, fasting is not usually required unless sedation is planned.
A chest X-ray shortly after placement (for neck or chest catheters) to confirm position, dressing checks at every dialysis session, and ongoing monitoring until the catheter is replaced by a longer-term access or removed.
When your kidneys can no longer filter your blood on their own, hemodialysis takes over that job using a machine outside your body. To move blood to and from the machine, doctors need a fast, reliable way into your bloodstream — this is called vascular access. A temporary (non-tunneled) hemodialysis catheter is a double- or triple-lumen tube inserted into a large central vein — usually the internal jugular (neck), subclavian (below the collarbone) or femoral (groin) vein. One channel pulls blood out to the dialyzer; the other returns cleaned blood to you. Unlike a fistula or graft, it needs no weeks of healing before it can be used — it works immediately, which is why it’s the access of choice in emergencies, such as acute kidney injury or a first, unplanned start of dialysis. According to KDOQI (Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative) guidance, a fistula is the preferred long-term access, and a temporary catheter is meant to bridge the gap, not to replace it.
Symptoms that can be observed or felt
These can be signs that your kidneys are no longer clearing waste and fluid well enough on their own, and that dialysis may need to start soon.
Conditions linked to this treatment
These are the conditions linked to this treatment in the directory. Your clinician decides whether a temporary catheter is the right access for you using your symptoms, examination and test results.
Remember: These entries are not a diagnosis or a treatment recommendation. Discuss your symptoms and test results with a qualified clinician.
If you’re noticing worsening swelling, breathlessness, very little urine, or you’ve been told a lab result is rising quickly, it’s worth getting checked rather than waiting it out — a simple blood test can often show clearly whether your kidneys need extra support right now. Many people who reach this point go on to start dialysis safely and do well on it. If you’d like an opinion from a nephrologist, you can find a specialist on KidneyGlobal and book a consultation.
How the insertion works
A nephrologist, interventional radiologist, or vascular/general surgeon usually performs the placement — often at your bedside in a hospital, or in an interventional radiology suite. In general:
How a dialysis session works once the catheter is in
At the start of each session, your dialysis nurse cleans the catheter’s exit ports and connects the tubing that carries blood to the dialysis machine. Blood flows out through one lumen, passes through the dialyzer (the artificial kidney filter) where waste products and extra fluid are removed, and returns to you through the second lumen. A session for kidney failure typically runs about 3–5 hours, though for acute, hospital-based dialysis your team may use shorter, more frequent sessions depending on your condition. Your nurse monitors your blood pressure, flow rates and comfort throughout.
Together, these make the temporary catheter the standard way to start dialysis safely when there isn’t time to wait for a more permanent access.
The treatment has risks and trade-offs to discuss with your care team. The information below comes from this treatment’s data.
Risks are minimised by careful patient selection, ultrasound guidance, and experienced teams.
Who it may not suit: These are general cautions, not a personal verdict. A qualified clinician must assess your full medical picture before recommending or delaying treatment.
During placement: you’re awake, but the area is numbed, so most people feel pressure, tugging, or brief discomfort rather than pain. Tell your team right away if you feel sharp pain, chest tightness, or shortness of breath.
Right after: a chest X-ray is often taken (for neck or chest catheters) to confirm the tip is correctly positioned and to check for complications like a collapsed lung before the catheter is used. You’ll have a dressing over the site that should stay clean and dry.
Between sessions: the external part of the catheter is capped, clamped and taped securely to your skin to prevent it from being pulled or snagged. Your care team will show you and your family how to keep the site protected.
Because a catheter is a foreign object sitting in a major vein, the longer it stays in, the higher the risk of:
This is why guidelines recommend using temporary, non-tunneled catheters only briefly and moving to a tunneled catheter, fistula or graft as soon as it’s safe to do so.
New or severe symptoms require prompt medical advice. Do not wait for a routine appointment if you feel seriously unwell.
Recovery from a temporary catheter placement is mostly about site care rather than downtime — most people resume normal activity the same day, aside from a few restrictions around the insertion site.
A temporary, non-tunneled catheter is meant to be short-term — guidance suggests roughly up to a week in the femoral vein and 2–3 weeks in the neck or chest, given rising infection risk over time. Your nephrologist will track your permanent access or kidney recovery and plan the catheter’s removal, which is usually a quick bedside procedure.
Specialists linked to this treatment in the KidneyGlobal directory. Review credentials and confirm availability directly before booking.
Verified kidney centres linked to this treatment in the KidneyGlobal directory.
Non-tunneled catheters are meant for short-term use — typically up to about 1 week in the femoral vein and up to 2–3 weeks in the neck or chest. If you'll need dialysis for longer, your team will usually plan a tunneled catheter or move you to a fistula or graft.
You'll be given local anesthetic to numb the skin, so most people feel pressure rather than sharp pain during placement. Mild soreness afterward is common and usually manageable with simple pain relief.
No — the exit site must stay dry. Sponge baths are recommended instead until the catheter is removed. Ask your team about waterproof covers if you need more guidance.
No. A temporary (non-tunneled) catheter sits mostly outside the body and is meant for days to a few weeks. A tunneled, cuffed catheter is placed under the skin for a longer bridge (weeks to months) when a fistula or graft isn't yet an option.
Start with a nephrologist. They'll assess whether you need dialysis, how urgently, and coordinate the right specialist for catheter placement if one is needed.
Yes — many temporary catheters are placed by nephrologists or interventional radiologists, particularly in hospital and interventional radiology settings. All are trained specifically in vascular access procedures.
