Reliable dialysis access is a lifeline. At Vascular & Vein Institute of the South, board-certified vascular surgeons and a board-certified interventional nephrologist work as one team to create, protect and repair the access that hemodialysis depends on.
We see dialysis patients at offices across Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas, and perform access procedures in our office-based labs and at Apollo Surgery Center in Memphis — so evaluation, the procedure and follow-up all happen within one practice.
A clotted or failing access is urgent. Call 1-888-FISTULA or 901-390-2930 the same day so you don’t miss a dialysis treatment.
When you need a trusted dialysis access team, look no further than the Vascular & Vein Institute of the South. Call 901.390.2930 or schedule your appointment online today.
Comprehensive Hemodialysis Access Management You Can Count On. At Vascular & Vein Institute of the South, our surgeons are deeply committed to providing exceptional dialysis access care—from initial placement to long-term maintenance. Whether you are preparing to begin dialysis or require ongoing access management, we offer the full spectrum of services in a responsive, patient-centered environment.
We’re here for the full life of your dialysis access—day one and every day after. Schedule a consultation today or speak with our team at 1-888-FISTULA.
We offer several dialysis access options, including both access creation and maintenance – including arterio-venous (AV) fistula placement, arterio-venous graft placement (AVG), percutaneous fistula creation, and access maintenance procedures (including fistulograms with subsequent treatment).
An AV fistula connects an artery directly to a vein, usually in your arm. An AV fistula increases the blood flow between the connected artery and vein. The higher volume of blood flow enlarges and strengthens your vein enough to support dialysis treatment. AV fistulas tend to last longer than other types of dialysis access and are less vulnerable to infection and clotting.
An AV graft is created similarly to a fistula, connecting a vein to an artery, but employs a plastic tube that is healed over by surrounding tissue.
With advanced technology, percutaneous fistula creation is also a great option for patients on dialysis – and can be performed in one of our outpatient procedural centers.
Long-term dialysis treatment can make the lining of your blood vessels thicken to the point where your circulation is limited enough to make dialysis difficult. During a fistulogram, we use minimally invasive techniques to locate (and ultimately fix) the narrowed section of the vein – including the use of both angioplasty (a balloon catheter), stents (medical grade metal mesh tubes), and thrombolytics (clot-busting drugs).
If you’re looking for an expert vascular surgeon for dialysis access creation and/or maintenance, call 1-888-FISTULA or make your appointment online today.
Call us if the thrill (buzz) in your access is weaker or gone; if bleeding lasts more than 20 minutes after the needles come out; if you notice new swelling of the arm, hand or face; if the hand on the access side is cold, numb or painful; if there is redness, warmth or drainage at the access site; or if your dialysis unit has trouble getting good flow.
Call us the same day — 1-888-FISTULA.
Our team can help get you the right care.
Schedule online or give us a call.
