Dialysis Access and Maintenance
Treatment for:
- Dialysis access and graft declotting
Procedures offered:
- Fistula/graft/rencatheter access
- Catheter-directed thrombolysis
- Angioplasty and vascular stenting
At Lakeland Vascular Institute in Lakeland, Florida, we understand that every dialysis patient is unique and therefore every approach to dialysis access planning, creation and management must be specially crafted for the needs of the individual patient.
Our interventional radiologists have the knowledge, skill and long history of supporting nephrologists while minimizing risks for our Lakeland-area dialysis patients. Consider Lakeland Vascular Institute (LVI) part of your multidisciplinary team, adept at the full range of endovascular procedures and always available to consult with you to achieve the best possible individualized care.
The interventional radiology staff at LVI supports you with a full range of dialysis planning, access and maintenance procedures:
Dialysis Access
Dialysis is a process used to treat patients whose kidneys are not working properly. It involves a special machine and tubing that removes blood from the body, cleanses it of waste and extra fluid and then returns it back to the body.
To undergo dialysis, a the interventional radiology staff at Lakeland Vascular Institute first creates access to a patient’s blood vessel using one of three methods:
- A fistula, which is made by joining together an artery and vein to make a bigger high-flow blood vessel. At LVI, we use two minimally invasive endovascular techniques for fistula creation—WaveLinQ and Ellipsys.
- A graft, in which a soft plastic tube is placed between an artery and a vein, creating an artificial high-flow blood vessel.
- Rencatheter access, in which a narrow plastic tube is inserted into a large vein in the neck.
When fistulas and grafts become clogged or narrowed, which can prevent a patient from undergoing dialysis, our Lakeland- area interventional radiologists use two image-guided interventions to fix the problem:
- Catheter-directed thrombolysis, which dissolves blood clots that build up in fistulas and grafts by injecting a medicine.
- Angioplasty and vascular stenting, which uses mechanical devices, such as a balloon, to open fistulas and grafts and helps them remain open with a small implantable wire mesh tube called a stent.
Outpatient Center
You can now have interventional nephrology procedures performed in our convenient outpatient center in Lakeland, FL. In addition to easier access and a more patient-focused environment, you will also be afforded lower risk of infection as well as lower overall costs.