Dialysis Access

What is dialysis access?

Dialysis access, also called vascular access, provides a way to access your blood for kidney dialysis. Once placed, the access lets blood travel from your body through a dialysis machine, where it’s cleaned and filtered. 

Dialysis access occurs during a brief outpatient surgery. There are three different approaches to this treatment. The Texas Cardiac and Vascular Specialists team could recommend:

Fistula access

A fistula is the most common type of dialysis access. During this procedure, your provider connects an artery and a vein in your arm. 

Graft access

A graft is similar to a fistula. The difference is your provider connects the artery and vein in your arm with a soft, flexible tube. 

Catheter access

Catheter access involves your provider inserting a catheter –– a thin, hollow tube –– into a large vein. Usually, catheter access involves accessing one of the veins in your neck.

What happens during a dialysis access procedure?

A dialysis access procedure is minimally invasive and occurs on an outpatient basis. Even so, you need someone to drive you home afterward because it takes several hours for the anesthesia to wear off.

Your provider has you change into a gown and lie down on an operating table. Then, they administer local anesthesia to help you relax or general anesthesia to make you fall asleep.

Once you’re comfortable, your provider cleans your arm or leg with an antiseptic solution and makes a small cut between an artery and a vein.

Fistula and graft access procedure

If you’re getting a fistula, your provider connects the artery and vein with a suture. If you’re getting a graft, your provider places a tube between your artery and uses thread to sew the tube to one end of the artery and the other end of the vein.

Catheter access procedure

Catheter access is a little more complicated. Your provider cleans the insertion site with an antiseptic solution, makes a small incision in your arm or leg, and inserts a catheter into it. They use guided imaging to place one end of the catheter near your heart and run the other end beneath your skin until it exits your body. Then, they place a cap on the end of the catheter outside your body.

What happens after a dialysis access procedure?

After your dialysis access procedure, you’re moved to a recovery room, and your provider explains how to care for your fistula, graft, or catheter site. It takes several weeks for the wound to heal, so cleaning and caring for it is crucial. Follow your provider’s instructions and attend each follow-up appointment as scheduled.

Call Texas Cardiac and Vascular Specialists to schedule a dialysis access consultation, or book your appointment online today.