Understanding Your Options for Dialysis: Arteriovenous Fistulas and Grafts

By Jeffrey Edwards, MD, RPVI

For patients undergoing hemodialysis, they may be concerned about the vascular access points for their dialysis procedures. Hemodialysis treatments require vascular access, which is entry point to access your bloodstream, allowing blood to flow back and forth from your veins and arteries to the dialysis machine to clean the toxins and waste from the body due to the kidneys inability to do so any longer. Arteriovenous connects the artery to the vein via an opening in the artery.

Arteriovenous (AV) fistulas and AV grafts
The purpose of both AV fistulas and AV graft procedures are to navigate blood from an artery into a vein. This is to complete the normal process of arteries carrying oxygen-rich blood from the heart and lungs and veins carrying the depleted blood back to the heart and lungs. AV fistulas are typically placed into the forearm or upper area of the non-dominate arm. The arteriovenous graft connects the artery and vein by way of a plastic tube.

AV Fistulas
AV fistulas create a natural opening to connect the arteries and veins. AV fistulas are the most inherent way to access the bloodstream and creates less likelihood of infection, irritation, or clotting; however, AV fistulas take several weeks to months to develop enough strength to support the blood flow needed to clean the blood.

AV Grafts
AV grafts are synthetic, so the access is shorter in duration than with AV fistulas, usually only two weeks is necessary for it to develop enough support for blood flow; however, there is higher risk for infection and clotting. AV grafts are usually used on patients with smaller veins or veins that cannot support blood flow necessary to clean the blood and filtrate through the body and the machine.

The physicians at Sarasota Vascular Specialists, are experts at creating AV fistulas and AV graft access points. If you are wondering about your vascular issues and options due to hemodialysis, Sarasota Vascular Specialists are the prime authorities on keeping your arteries and veins healthy and functioning well during and in between these delicate procedures.

If you or a loved one has any of the venous symptoms or risk factors discussed above, you must seek medical attention immediately. Making an appointment with a vascular surgeon specializing in venous disease is critical.

Sarasota Vascular Specialists
Sarasota Vascular Specialists have been the leading vascular specialists in the tri-county area for over 30 years. Their practice is the only medical practice dedicated to the treatment of patients with disorders of the veins and arteries. Unlike most surgical groups, they are also uniquely trained and experienced to offer all forms of diagnosis and therapy including:
• Varicose veins, spider veins, deep venous thrombosis
• Carotid artery surgery and carotid stenting
• Medical management, angioplasty, bypass
• Thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms

Sarasota Vascular Specialists has an onsite lab to perform ultrasound and give rapid diagnostics. Their vascular lab can non-invasively diagnose all arterial and venous diseases. Their experienced vascular lab staff includes seven registered vascular technologists.

It’s the first vascular laboratory in Sarasota to be certified by the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories. The lab was also featured as the gold standard facility by ABC Television’s Prime Time when it evaluated vascular labs in Florida. They have over $500,000 invested in our state-of-the-art GE Ultrasound scan machines as well as our Unetix physiological units. Their facility also developed the AtriumNet software program for rapid reporting of results.

To schedule your appointment, please call 941-371-6565, or visit veinsandarteries.com to find out more.

 

Sarasota Vascular Specialists
941-371-6565
www.veinsandarteries.com