Dialysis Access

Vascular and Vein Institute of the South

Vascular Surgery located in Germantown, TN & Memphis, TN

If you have a vascular disorder, such as peripheral artery disease (PAD), limb preservation is our top priority with multiple locations in Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas. Our experienced team of vascular surgeons offer advanced treatments that can save your legs by avoiding amputation. Schedule an appointment by phone or online to learn more about limb preservation options.

When you need a trusted vascular surgery provider, look no further than the Vascular & Vein Institute of the South. Call 901.390.2930 or schedule your appointment online today.

Dialysis Access Q & A

What is dialysis access surgery?

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).

Surgical Access Creation - AV Fistula Placement

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.

Access Maintenance - Fistulogram with Angioplasty, Stenting, & Thrombolytics

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.

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