- Reference Number: HEY868/2025
- Departments: Renal Service
- Last Updated: 31 December 2025
Introduction
This leaflet has been produced to give you general information following insertion of a tunnelled haemodialysis line. Most of your questions should be answered by this leaflet. It is not intended to replace the discussion between you and the healthcare team but may act as a starting point for discussion. If after reading it you have any concerns or require further explanation, please discuss this with a member of the healthcare team.
What is a tunnelled haemodialysis?
Dialysis is a treatment to replace some of the essential functions which your kidneys can no longer provide. A tunnelled haemodialysis line (also known as a tunnelled line) is a small soft plastic tube inserted through the skin into a large vein in your neck or at the top of your leg. This is used to connect you to a dialysis machine. The tunnelled haemodialysis line is usually made up of two narrow tubes which are either separate or joined together. This is so that blood can be taken out of the body through one tube and returned to the body through the other tube.
Why do I need a tunnelled haemodialysis line?
The tunnelled haemodialysis line is used to connect you to a haemodialysis machine. The machine removes the waste products and excess fluid that the kidneys cannot remove. This is required because your kidneys are damaged to the extent that they need the machine to take over their normal function.
The tunnelled haemodialysis line can be kept in for several weeks or months until a more permanent access like a fistula (please see separate leaflet ‘Formation of Fistula for Haemodialysis’) is created as this is the best way to give you dialysis.
Sutures (stitches)
In the neck to be removed after day 7.
Sutures around the line to be removed after 21 days.
Sutures will be removed by your dialysis nurses.
Decolonisation
People naturally carry germs (often referred to as bacteria) on their skin, which sometimes can cause infections, especially during medical procedures like neckline insertions. To prevent these infections, decolonisation is used. This involves cleaning the skin with antiseptic solutions/ body washes and applying nasal ointments (cream).
Patients will be provided with decolonisation products prior to the procedure and should continue daily for 5 days after the tunnelled line insertion. If you have not received these, please let us know straight away.
Will I be in pain post tunnelled haemodialysis line insertion?
Your neck and shoulder may be sore for a couple of days. Mild pain relief can be taken for this, for example paracetamol. If the pain is persistent or feels like it is getting worse, please inform your nurse straight away if you are an inpatient.
If you are an outpatient, please seek medical attention either your GP or:
Hull Haemodialysis Unit – Tel: 01482 608748
or
Out of hours – Ward 50, Hull Royal Infirmary Tel: 01482 675050
Dressing change
Your dressing will be changed on next dialysis sessions by dialysis nurses
Who will care for my tunnelled haemodialysis line?
While in hospital your tunnelled haemodialysis line will be looked after by the nursing staff on the ward. This involves:
- Cleaning the exit site and applying a new dressing at least once a week.
- Checking the tunnelled haemodialysis line and the area it enters your body every day for any problems with the tubing or exit site.
After discharge from hospital the tunnelled haemodialysis line will be cared for by your haemodialysis nursing team.
Care of your tunnelled haemodialysis line at home
Showering: Keep the dressing dry. Cover the line and dressing area with a clean plastic bag using medical tape to apply. Do not immerse that area directly under the water.
Having a bath: Bath water is not as clean as shower water so if you have a bath, you must ensure the exit site and end of line are kept out of the water.
Sports: Many sports like tennis, golf or strenuous gym exercises should be avoided. There is a risk your tunnelled haemodialysis line could become dislodged due to a lot of upper body movement.
Do not go swimming with a tunnelled haemodialysis line as you would not be able to keep the exit site or end of the line out of water and would increase the risk of infection. Your doctor or nurse can advise you about other sports that are acceptable.
In the longer term, an arterio-venous fistula (AVF) will be placed and the above will not be an issue.
Exit site: To prevent infection your tunnelled haemodialysis line must be kept clean and dry at the exit site and the dressing changed once a week or more frequently if the dressing becomes soiled, loose or wet.
Possible problems
You should contact the vascular access nurse on telephone number Tel: 01482 608709 or, out of hours, please contact Ward 50, Hull Royal Infirmary on telephone number Tel: 01482 675050.
Infection: It is possible for an infection to develop inside the tunnelled haemodialysis line or in the area where it goes into the vein. If you notice any swelling, or redness, along the vein above the insertion site contact the above.
Leaking blood: This is rare but if you notice any leaking from the tunnelled haemodialysis line it may be a hole that has developed in the line. Attend your local Emergency Department.
The tunnelled haemodialysis line breaks or you accidently cut the line: You must NEVER use scissors near the line. If you notice a cut or tear in the line, attend your local Emergency Department immediately.
Air in the tunnelled haemodialysis line entering the bloodstream: You may suddenly have difficulty breathing, experience chest pain, dizziness or confusion. Clamp the line if it is not already clamped.
- Contact the emergency services (dial Tel: 999) to attend your local Emergency Department.
- If possible, lie down with your head lower than your hips and feet until assistance arrives.
Should you require further advice on the issues contained in this leaflet, please do not hesitate to contact the: Hull Renal Dialysis Unit, Tel: 01482 608748; or Ward 50 Hull Royal infirmary, Tel: 01482 675050
General Advice and Consent
Most of your questions should have been answered by this leaflet, but remember that this is only a starting point for discussion with the healthcare team.
Consent to treatment
Before any doctor, nurse or therapist examines or treats you, they must seek your consent or permission. In order to make a decision, you need to have information from health professionals about the treatment or investigation which is being offered to you. You should always ask them more questions if you do not understand or if you want more information.
The information you receive should be about your condition, the alternatives available to you, and whether it carries risks as well as the benefits. What is important is that your consent is genuine or valid. That means:
- you must be able to give your consent
- you must be given enough information to enable you to make a decision
- you must be acting under your own free will and not under the strong influence of another person
Information about you
We collect and use your information to provide you with care and treatment. As part of your care, information about you will be shared between members of a healthcare team, some of whom you may not meet. Your information may also be used to help train staff, to check the quality of our care, to manage and plan the health service, and to help with research. Wherever possible we use anonymous data.
We may pass on relevant information to other health organisations that provide you with care. All information is treated as strictly confidential and is not given to anyone who does not need it. If you have any concerns please ask your doctor, or the person caring for you.
Under the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018 we are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of any information we hold about you. For further information visit the following page: Confidential Information about You.
If you or your carer needs information about your health and wellbeing and about your care and treatment in a different format, such as large print, braille or audio, due to disability, impairment or sensory loss, please advise a member of staff and this can be arranged.
