Treatment for: Kidney disease/renal failure
Procedures offered: AVF fistula creation, Catheter-directed thrombolysis, Angioplasty and stenting
Hemodialysis is a treatment for 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.
In order to have hemodialysis, a physician must first create a special dialysis access point to a patient’s blood vessel. One such access is called a fistula or an arteriovenous (AV) fistula. This is made by joining an artery and a vein together in the forearm in order to make a larger, high-flow blood vessel that can be repeatedly used during dialysis.
Fistulas require maintenance to keep them in good working order. Over time, they can become clogged or narrowed, which can prevent a patient from undergoing dialysis. The interventional radiologists at North Star Vascular & Interventional use two image-guided interventions for fistula maintenance:
- Catheter-directed thrombolysis: A procedure to dissolve blood clots that build up in fistulas through the injection of a special medicine.
- Angioplasty and stenting: A procedure that uses a special balloon, to open the clogged or narrowed fistula. In some cases, a small implantable wire mesh tube called a stent may be placed within the vessel to keep it open and working properly.
