When kidney function is compromised there is a need for dialysis treatments in order to filter the toxins from the blood. Dialysis requires access to the blood stream, gained by placing 2 needles in the vein – one drawing blood to the dialysis machine, and the other returning the filtered blood to the blood stream. […]

Since first used for hemodialysis in 1966, the Arteriovenous Fistula (AVF) has been established in the medical community as the preferred method of vascular access,

The importance of your kidneys Kidneys are a very important organ in the body whose main role is to:

It’s no secret that unstable sugar levels in diabetic patients can damage your kidneys.

It is well-known that arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) are the preferred vascular access in hemodialysis patients, mainly because they decrease morbidity and mortality. Despite advances in the field of hemodialysis, the mortality rate still remains high, with cardiac complications as a leading cause followed by infections. We will discuss the cardiovascular effect of AVF below. AVFs […]

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a frequent symptom in both acute and chronic kidney disease, particularly in cases of glomerular or vascular disorders. The health of your kidneys can affect your blood pressure and vice versa. In other words, if you have high blood pressure, you are more likely to have a […]

For a patient whose kidneys have failed, venous access or access to the blood system must be established and maintained for dialysis treatments. The access should be available for immediate use and have minimal complications in the short term (from days to weeks). 

In most cases blood flow in body is laminar. Laminar flow is characterized by concentric layers of blood moving parallel down the length of the blood vessel. Adjacent to the vessel wall there is very little blood flow, with the velocity increasing as the layers extend towards the center of the vessel. The orderly movement […]

Monitoring kidney function is vital for early diagnosis and treatment of renal failure, tracking kidney disease progression and adjusting medication and treatment plans in accordance to kidney function level.   

You are probably reading this because you have a catheter and are facing the choice of either an arteriovenous fistula or an arteriovenous graft.