Percutaneous access to the right atrium through the site of superior vena cava occlusion to re-catheterization for a maintenance hemodialysis patient with central venous obstruction

Central venous catheters are commonly used for hemodialysis, but prolonged use can lead to complications such as central venous occlusion, resulting in catheter-dependent dialysis patients being unable to undergo dialysis. Herein, we present the case of a 57-year-old female patient who had been dependent on catheter-based hemodialysis for 8 years. Her tunneled central venous catheter (TCC) had been replaced three times and she had developed severe central venous occlusion. For this patient, a procedure was performed involving a percutaneous puncture through the site of superior vena cava occlusion to gain access to the right atrium. The intervention utilized multiple surgical instruments, including a transseptal needle in combination with the stiffening cannula from the RUPS-100 Suite, to facilitate re-catheterization for maintenance hemodialysis. We discuss the feasibility of such procedures as a last-resort option while emphasizing the associated risks.