Dialysis Access Care
Dialysis Access Care Management
Patients on dialysis and dialysis specialists understand the critical importance of the vascular access in filtering toxins from patient’s blood by a dialysis machine. The ideal hemodialysis access is an artery to vein fistula that delivers high blood flow and easy cannulation.
Most fistula or graft malfunctions are caused by scar tissue that grows into the fistula and causes a narrowing of the access. If we catch the problem in time, we can keep the access open and functioning optimally.
Vascular Centers are dedicated to and specialize in, the care and maintenance of patients’ dialysis accesses.
At Naadi Vascular and Interventional Center, our physician performs outpatient procedures to maintain optimal access performance.
OR CALL: (405) 608-8884
TO SCHEDULE A DIALYSIS ACCESS REFERRAL AT OUR OFFICE IN OKLAHOMA CITY.
SYMPTOMS OF Dialysis Access Care
MAY INCLUDE, BUT NOT LIMITED TO:
Low clearance or low kt/v (a measure of adequacy of dialysis treatment)
Difficulty cannulating
High venous pressures – noted on dialysis machine
Low Arterial Pressures – noted on dialysis machine
Excessive or prolonged bleeding after dialysis
Failure of a fistula to mature (to enlarge adequately to permit cannulation)
Decreased access blood flow by dialysis machine measurements
PROCEDURES
Stenting
Stenting involves inserting a stent which is a small, wire mesh tube that expands, holding open a vessel to restore and maintain adequate blood flow through the AV fistula or graft. Stents are inserted through an iv into the fistula/graft, and remain permanently in place. Stents are used when balloon angioplasty alone is not sufficient to keep the access open.
Catheter Services
Dialysis catheters are an alternative dialysis access that can be used when a dialysis fistula or graft is not an option or not yet ready for cannulation. Tunneled and non-tunneled Dialysis Catheter insertions, exchanges, and removals are all done at Naadi Healthcare.
Thrombectomy (declot)
Thrombectomy is a procedure which removes blood clots through a catheter-guided procedure. Our specially trained physicians at Naadi Healthcare perform the outpatient procedure to remove the clot from the fistula or graft using an instrument specifically designed instrument, eliminating the need for a more invasive procedure. This restores flow through the fistula/graft and enables dialysis to be performed again.
Angiography
Angiography is a minimally invasive procedure to obtain images of arteries and veins to diagnose blockages and other blood vessel problems. An interventional radiologist performs this X-ray procedure, which is also called an angiogram. One of the most common reasons for angiograms is to see if there is a blockage or narrowing in a blood vessel that may interfere with the normal flow of blood through the body. In many cases, the interventional radiologist can treat a blocked blood vessel without surgery – sometimes at the same time, the angiogram is performed. Interventional radiologists treat blockages with techniques called angioplasty and thrombolysis, atherectomy, and stent placement.
Angioplasty
Angioplasty is a minimally invasive procedure during which a small balloon catheter is threaded through your blood vessel and used to expand the vessel to its normal size.
Ultrasound evaluation of fistula/graft
Ultrasound evaluation is a screening tool which provides the ability to examine the vascular structures deep under the skin and overcome the limitations of physical examination.
Ultrasound is invaluable for the maintenance of a dialysis access and provides valuable information before venography or an intervention. An initial look with ultrasound will increase the ease and efficiency of an intervention.
About Us
At Naadi Healthcare Oklahoma City, OK, our vascular center is filled with experienced and authorized staff to supply the most recent treatments for vascular and interventional radiology. Our center focuses on minimally invasive procedures to ensure that our patients recover as quickly as possible.