Dialysis Access Care
In order to provide the best dialysis access services to you, there are several procedures AVIC experts can perform:
Fistulagram
Fistulagrams are studies performed to monitor the function of the fistula or graft. Several clinical indicators are used to determine the frequency of these studies such as high venous pressures, low flow rates, prolonged bleeding, difficulty with cannulation, weak thrill or bruit or pulsatile site. Our plan is to be proactive in the care and maintenance of your dialysis access care.
Peripheral Angioplasty
Often times a study will indicate the presence of a narrowed area (stenosis) in the outflow vein or the inflow artery. When this occurs it is necessary to place a balloon catheter across the narrowed area and dilate that stenosis to improve the flow in the fistula or graft and to prevent the graft from blocking (clot).
Peripheral Stenting
Many times a narrowed vessel will not respond to a balloon procedure alone. When this happens and only if this happens, we can place a metallic device called a ‘stent’ across the narrowed area and use the balloon to open the stent and keep the narrowed area open.
Fistula Maturation Procedures
Your surgeon will place a fistula, or surgically created pathway, in your arm. This process can take time until it is ready to use, and this waiting period is often called the “fistula maturation.”
If a fistula doesn’t mature properly, we can use an x-ray dye to “see” if we can find a reason why the maturation did not occur. After this process, we can then use our minimally invasive techniques to assist in the fistula maturation process by re-routing or re-directing the blood flow into the fistula.
Thrombolysis/Thrombectomy
Even under the best of care, it is possible for your access to be blocked for various reasons. In order to provide the best care to you during your dialysis treatment, our experts at AVIC are available to answer questions and provide care if you experience a blocked access.
Once your dialysis center has determined that your access has clotted, we can bring you in to AVIC and set you up for your Thrombolysis procedure. Through this procedure we will be able to get into your access site, find out why it shut down, treat the problems and restore the function of your graft.
We can also treat your catheter if it is blocked from a blood or fibrin deposit on the catheter. We can treat this using medication to dissolve the blood or fibrin, mechanically removing the clot or by changing the catheter over a wire.
Complete Catheter Services (Central Venous Access Placement for Temporary Use)
There are times when your need for dialysis is more important than fixing your fistula or graft.. That’s why AVIC offers complete catheter services.
When your need for dialysis is priority, we offer a central venous access for temporary use. During this procedure we will place a catheter in your neck or groin using our ultrasound guidance.
Ultrasound can show us the best place to put a catheter without having to try several times, so that we can facilitate a quick and easy method of temporary central venous access for your dialysis.
Vessel Mapping
Vessel mapping involves placing a small IV in your hand to inject an IV contrast (Dye). This dye will show us where your veins are. This helps our team of dialysis access experts, your Nephrologist and your surgeon plan where best to place to your fistula or graft.
Tunneled Catheter Placement for Hemodialysis
When you are new to dialysis you may need to be dialyzed with a catheter until your fistula or graft is ready to use. At AVIC, we can place this type of catheter across your collarbone so that you have access to the dialysis you need until your fistula or graft is ready for use.
If you are in need of dialysis access care, or have questions about a dialysis access related procedure listed here, please contact the experts at AVIC