Skip to main content

Dialysis Access Surgery

Coastal Vascular Center

Vascular & Endovascular Surgeons located in Oxnard, Camarillo, & Simi Valley, CA

Over 726,000 Americans are living with kidney disease and need dialysis to stay healthy. To prepare you for dialysis therapy, the surgical team at Coastal Vascular Center offers dialysis access surgery, customizing your treatment to meet your specific needs. At their offices in Oxnard, Simi Valley, and Camarillo, California, the compassionate medical team offers comprehensive care before, during, and after surgery. Find out more about options for dialysis access surgery by calling the office nearest you or by requesting a consultation online now.

Dialysis Access Surgery Q & A

What is dialysis access surgery?

Dialysis access surgery is a procedure needed to prepare your body for dialysis, a common treatment for kidney failure. Dialysis helps remove excess fluids and waste from your body when your kidneys aren’t functioning properly or have failed. A machine removes blood from your body through a tube, filters it, then sends it back through a different tube.

In order to begin dialysis therapy, your Coastal Vascular Center surgeon needs to create an access point in your body that allows waste product to filter into the dialysis technology.

What’s involved in dialysis access surgery?

There are two ways to access your blood for dialysis: An arteriovenous (AV) fistula connection and an arteriovenous (AV) graft.

Arteriovenous (AV) fistula connection

To make an arteriovenous (AV) fistula connection, your Coastal Vascular Center surgeon places an AV fistula device into your upper arm or forearm, which causes extra blood to flow into the vein and make it stronger. The enlarged vein makes it easier to access blood vessels and improves the flow of blood into the dialysis machine.

Arteriovenous (AV) graft

An arteriovenous (AV) graft is also useful for dialysis access. This procedure involves the placement of a looped tube that connects an artery to a vein. This setup needs time to stabilize before using it in dialysis.

Both AV grafts and AV fistulas are beneficial for long-term dialysis use. If you only need dialysis access for the short-term, you may need a venous catheter.

This procedure involves the surgical insertion of a tube into a vein of your chest, neck, or leg. The tube splits in two, allowing one tube to draw in blood while the other tube allows filtered blood to flow back into the body.

A venous catheter may also be your only option if your kidney disease is progressing quickly, and there isn’t time for an AV fistula or graft surgery.

What can I expect after dialysis access surgery?

Like any surgery, there are precautions you need to take to prevent infection and other complications. Your Coastal Vascular Center surgeon provides resources to help you care for the surgical site at home.

You may also need to schedule follow-up appointments that allow your doctor to monitor the healing of the surgical site and ensure the access point is open and functional.

If you have kidney disease and anticipate needing dialysis, you can schedule a dialysis access surgery consultation at Coastal Vascular Center by phone or through the online booking feature today.