Table 2.

Central vein approaches for dialysis catheters

Priority	Vein	Advantages	Disadvantages or complications
First choice	Internal jugular vein	Best with ultrasound	Medium infection risk
		Right side gives more chance to correct blind catheter tip placement	Medium bleeding risk
			Uncomfortable when not tunneled
Second choice	Femoral vein	Lower bleeding risk	Higher infection risk
		No need for radiological control after insertion	Higher thrombosis risk
			Poor catheter performance when patient sits up
Third choice (avoid proximal or terminal arteriovenous fistula in the same side)	Subclavian vein	Lower infection risk	Higher bleeding risk
		Suitability for subcutaneous tunneling and port access	Higher pneumothorax risk
			Higher thrombosis risk
			“Blind” procedure that cannot be guided with ultrasound