Introduction: Vascular access is essential for hemodialysis. Many patients require a central venous catheter for hemodialysis long-term or short-term if they do not have a functional arteriovenous fistula. Complications related to hemodialysis catheters can reduce the effectiveness of hemodialysis. Nurses spend most of their time with patients and are responsible for quality care of the hemodialysis catheter. Purpose: The purpose is to present the nursing care of patients with a hemodialysis catheter, complications related to a hemodialysis catheter, and to describe the role of a nurse in a patient undergoing hemodialysis treatment. Methods: We used a descriptive work method with the help of aliterature review. We focused on Slovenian, English, Croatian and Serbian literature. Data were searched in the following databases: PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar and Cobiss. Results: Nurses play a key role in assessing, setting up, maintaining and monitoring the hemodialysis catheter and in patient education. Nurses are also responsible for recognizing the occurrence of complications related to the hemodialysis catheter, such as pneumothorax, hematothorax, arterial damage, bleeding, arrhythmias, air embolism, central vein laceration, infections, catheter dysfunction, fibrin sheath formation, thrombosis, catheter malposition and central vein stenosis. Discussion and conclusion: Central venous catheters as a vascular approach for hemodialysis are associated with complications that place a significant burden on healthcare professionals and the healthcare system. Complications are divided into early and late. Early complications are related to the insertion of a central venous catheter and include bleeding, failed venipuncture, and damage to surrounding structures, including pneumothorax. Late complications are partial or complete clogging of the catheter, the formation of fibrin deposits, coagulopathy, and infections. The risk of complications associated with hemodialysis catheters can be controlled by using good clinical practice, following guidelines and protocols, and monitoring quality indicators. Nurses must have a wide range of knowledge in order to provide quality hemodialysis treatment with the help of a hemodialysis catheter.
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