What is dialysis access management?
Dialysis is a procedure that filters the blood to remove waste and excess fluid. This process starts in dialysis machines, which are located all over hospitals throughout the world. Dialysis access management- or simply maintenance -is also known as “dialytic fistula interventions.” If your patient’s treatment includes this type of management then they will need constant care from medical professionals.
What conditions does dialysis access management help treat?
Dialysis is a common treatment for patients with kidney failure or complications. It involves artificial blood vessel connections, and the process can be made smoother by managing these access points to ensure they are in good working order. This prevents issues like clogging of those vessels due to clotting or coagulation that may happen over time as well as narrowing of the connection which has been found to occur more often than not when people have dialysis done regularly.”
Dialysis treatments commonly used on patients who suffer from renal/kidney disease helps keep them alive through highly-frequent sessions using an array of specialized equipment including fake blood vessel attachments. When connected properly, this apparatus allows their body’s functions (especially fluid movement) remain unaffected while also preventing clogs.
How does dialysis access management work?
To understand the dialysis access management process, you have to first understand dialysis. dialysis is for a patient whose kidneys are not working properly on their own. A doctor then creates access to their blood vessels to ease the blood filtering process. The blood filtering occurs through a dialysis machine. These blood vessel connections include fistulas. This involves joining an artery with a vein to create a higher blood flow. The blood vessels may use grafts. These are soft tubes placed between an artery and a vein to create a higher-flow blood vessel. Similar to the ones created by fistulas. Dialysis may use a catheter for access, which is when a narrow plastic tube in a larger vein in either the groin or neck.
Interventional radiology helps dialysis by keeping these connections healthy and functioning. They may include catheter-directed thrombolysis, catheter-directed mechanical thrombectomy, and angioplasty or vascular stenting.
Catheter-directed thrombolysis is a procedure that dissolves blood clots. These surgical procedures may have built up in grafts and fistulas, where catheter directed mechanical thrombectomy occurs when the blood clot physically removed or broken up.
Angioplasty and/or vascular stenting is when mechanical devices including medical balloons widen the openings of grafts and fistulas. The aim is to help them remain open, facilitating better blood flow. After the balloons removal, small mesh tubes called stents may used in the grafts or fistulas. This provides extra support for keeping the connections open and flowing.
What does dialysis access management entail?
We’re committed to providing high quality care and excellent outcomes. To that end, our radiology team will discuss the management procedures you need for your condition with you in detail prior to any treatment so there’s no surprises along the way!
