In the late stages of chronic kidney disease, regular hemodialysis performs the job of the damaged kidneys. It is imperative that the access site, called a fistula or graft, is not clotted, so dialysis can be performed as prescribed by your Nephrologist. When the site becomes clotted, your Nephrologist will refer you to a specialist who is trained to quickly restore access to the site, so your treatments can continue as soon as possible. The doctors at Vascular Health Institute in Dallas, TX are specialists in hemodialysis access. Call or schedule an appointment online today.
The doctor may perform a fistulagram to check blood flow through the fistula and pressure in the vein. A fistulagram is a minimally invasive procedure that allows him to see inside the access site using image-guidance/flouroscopy.
If he discovers a clot, the doctor may perform thrombectomy to remove blood clots and/or venous angioplasty and stenting to ensure the blood vessels stay open for dialysis access.