The Bio-Flex™ Tesio® Cath is a pair of catheters that are inserted into a central vein for the purpose of accessing blood for dialysis. The catheters are inserted in a simple surgical procedure. The Bio-Flex™ Tesio® is available in two types - with cuff and without cuff, or cuffless. The type of catheter selected will be determined by your doctor to meet your needs.

The Bio-Flex™ Tesio® is designed to remain in place for an extended period of time, allowing vascular access for dialysis. Benefits of this catheter are that the dialysis nurses can start dialysis through the catheter rather than sticking a graft or fistula in the patient's arm. It also provides a vascular access in patients who cannot have or do not want fistulas or grafts due to their medical condition.

The Bio-Flex™ Tesio® Cath is inserted in a large vein in the patient's chest or neck. The catheter is then “tunneled” under the skin to exit out of the chest wall. The tip of the catheter is in the large vein that enters the patient's heart. It is placed there because of the large volume of blood flow at that site, which is necessary for dialysis.

The Bio-Flex™ Tesio® Cath is a two lumen (twin or dual) catheter that is specifically designed to allow for high blood flows during high flux or high efficiency dialysis. This allows your dialysis treatment to be very efficient in clearing the toxins from the patient’s blood.

The catheter is attached to the blood tubing during dialysis. One of the Bio-Flex™ Tesio® catheters allows blood to be pulled out of the patient's vein into the dialysis machine while the other catheter allows the machine to return clean blood back to the patient's vein. After dialysis treatment, the nurse will inject a heparin solution to keep the catheter from clotting so it can be used for the next dialysis treatment.

* Your Doctor should give you any special instructions on how to care for your Bio-Flex™ Tesio® Catheter. Space is provided for such written instructions in the PDF version of this literature, which we recommend that you download & print by Clicking Here.

• Keep surgical sites clean and dry until they are completely healed.
• Keep exit sites clean and dry for at least 6-8 weeks or until your doctor tells you differently.
• Tell your doctor and dialysis nurse immediately if you have pain, redness, or swelling at the exit site of the catheter.
• DO NOT pinch, poke, bend, or pull at your catheter.
• DO NOT use sharp objects around your catheter.
• DO NOT get your catheter wet (shower, swimming) until you check with your doctor.

*Once your catheter has completely healed, you may shower, but check with your doctor first.

SIGNS: You may have fever, chills, swelling, drainage at the exit site, redness or tenderness. You may feel unusually tired, or have nausea or vomiting.
WHAT TO DO: Call your doctor. You may have an infection and may need an antibiotic.

SIGNS: Blood leaking from the catheter.
WHAT TO DO: Stop the bleeding by pinching, clamping, or tying off the end of your catheter. Call your Doctor immediately.

SIGNS: No blood return when the nurse tried to start dialysis.
WHAT TO DO: Your nurse will notify your doctor for further orders. Sometimes a medicine that dissolves blood clots can be injected or the catheter may need to be replaced.

SIGNS: Shortness of breath or chest discomfort within hours after your catheter is inserted, you may have air in your lung space.
WHAT TO DO: This is an EMERGENCY. Call 911 and sit quietly in a position that is comfortable. You will need to be examined as soon as possible.

SIGNS: This may occur if your catheter is cut or the cap is removed accidentally. If this occurs, you may have shortness of breath, chest pain, or pass out.
WHAT TO DO: This is an EMERGENCY. Clamp the catheter immediately near the exit site if the catheter has been damaged or the cap has come off. If the damage to the catheter is between the clamp and your skin, then tie a knot in the catheter close to where the catheter enters your skin. You may also bend the catheter over and hold it closed by tightly placing a rubber band or plastic twist tie. Lie down on your left side with your head down and your feet elevated. Call your doctor immediately if you are able or call 911.

SIGNS: Sometimes the vein in your neck becomes narrowed when the catheter is in place. If you notice swelling in your hand, arm, neck, or breast, this may be the problem.
WHAT TO DO: Call your doctor. He will probably want to get a special X-ray.

The place on your body where the catheter comes out. With this catheter, it is usually the upper chest wall.

The procedure whereby the catheters are pulled under the skin to exit the chest wall. This is done during the insertion of the catheters.

To seal off or occlude the catheter so that nothing can go in the catheter or come out. It may be done by bending the catheter on itself or by using a clamp provided.

The small incision on your neck or chest where the catheter was inserted.

Treatment which takes blood from a large vein, processes it through the dialysis machine for cleaning, then returns the blood to the patient. Usual treatments are 3 times a week for 2 1/2 - 4 hours.

Waste products and poisons that build up naturally in your blood. These are normally removed by the kidney. Patients with renal failure must undergo dialysis to remove the toxins.

* The PDF version of this literature provides space in which your doctor can write down specific information about your catheter and give special instructions. We recommend that you download and print this literature by Clicking Here.

AUTHORSHIP:
Patty Campbell, R.N., A.N.P.

EDITORIAL:
Judy Hahn, RN, A.N.P.
Sandy Boxer, RN, A.N.P.
Molly Moore, RN, A.N.P.