A permacath is a piece of plastic tubing – very similar to a jugular catheter – and is used in the same way for your hemodialysis.

The permacath has a cuff that holds the catheter in place and acts as a barrier to infection. The cuff is underneath the skin and cannot be seen. The catheter part that you can see is the part that protrudes from the chest wall. It is about 6 inches/15 cm long and is made of soft, white, flexible plastic. There are 2 limbs.

A transparent dressing will be put over the part where the catheter leaves the chest wall and(since the catheter is under the level of your collar bone) it will not be seen when you are clothed.