[Hemodialysis with the use of unilateral catheterization of the subclavian veins in the treatment of acute kidney failure].

The study enrolled 19 patients with acute renal failure (ARF) who underwent 108 sessions of hemodialysis, 2 ultrafiltrations and 1 plasmapheresis. Hemodialysis was performed through the unilateral puncturing of the subclavian vein (which averaged 225 days) by a routine catheter (1.2 mm in diameter) introduced into the vein for the period from 1 to 38 days (13.41 +/- 2.06 days). There was no evidence of complications induced by catheterization. The authors regarded the aforementioned vascular access used for various methods of extracorporeal detoxication in the ARF patients with an alternate blood intake and retrieval through the subclavian catheter as a reliable, available and convenient technique ensuring a sufficient blood flow and satisfactory tolerance by the patients.