Abstract: 【Abstract】Objective To study the relationship between tip position and flow rate of the tunneled cuffed catheter (TCC) in femoral vein. Methodology We selected 215 cases of maintenance hemodialysis patients with TCC in femoral vein. According to X-ray examination, distal tip of the catheter was categorized into group A, group B and group C. Blood flow (ml/min) was recorded within one hour of the first hemodialysis. Blood flow was compared between the groups. Results of Kruskal-Wallis test showed that χ2=11.5, Df=2 and P=0.003. Average blood flow was different between the 3 groups, with 235.3± 25.5ml/min in group A, 249.5 ± 18.1ml/min in group B and 234.7 ± 26.8ml/min in group C. Comparison between the groups using Mann-Whitney U test showed that the difference was statistically significant in group B (P＜0.05). Conclusion Blood flow of the tunneled cuffed catheter in femoral vein was related to the position of the catheter tip. At L3 level, the blood flow was the highest. The most suitable tip position was at L3 level in inferior vena cava. The different flow rate within a group may relate to the anatomical variation of inferior vena cava.

Key words: Femoral vein, Tunneled cuffed catheter, Tip position, Flow rate