Vascular Dialysis Access

What is dialysis?

Your kidneys perform several essential functions: they filter waste and impurities out of your blood, help control your blood pressure, and regulate levels of vitamins, minerals, and other elements your body needs to stay healthy. 

Kidney disease, kidney failure, and kidney injuries can prevent your kidneys from doing their job. Dialysis is a medical treatment that performs these essential functions when your own kidneys don’t work properly.

Hemodialysis is the most common type of dialysis. It involves a machine with a filter known as an artificial kidney, which removes excess fluid and waste and regulates blood pressure and composition. 

During a hemodialysis procedure, your blood is diverted from your veins outside of your body to the dialysis machine. Once your blood has been purified, it’s returned to your body.

What is vascular dialysis access?

An entrance to your veins, known as a vascular access, is necessary to connect your bloodstream to the external dialysis machine. 

There are three types of vascular access: arteriovenous (AV) fistula access, graft access, and catheter access. 

What happens during a vascular access procedure?

The skilled experts at the Vascular Institute of New York create vascular dialysis access using a minimally invasive surgical procedure.

AV fistula access

During an AV fistula procedure, your surgeon uses slender tools to join an artery and a vein underneath your skin. This increases blood availability so that flow is stronger when connected to the dialysis machine via needle insertion. AV fistula access is typically located in your arm and takes 1-4 weeks to heal following the procedure.

Graft access

If your blood vessels aren’t strong enough for an AV fistula access, your surgeon can create access by connecting an artery and a vein using a soft tube. Needle insertions into the grafted tube then connect your bloodstream to the dialysis machine. Graft access is typically located in your arm and takes 3-6 weeks to heal. 

Catheter access

If your doctor determines that you need dialysis right away, before a more permanent type of access has time to heal, your surgeon can provide temporary catheter access. To do so, they insert a soft catheter tube into a vein in your neck, chest, or leg. The catheter can connect to the dialysis machine immediately.

For vascular dialysis access, you can trust the experienced surgeons at the Vascular Institute of New York. To learn more, call today or book an appointment online.