What is Fistula Maintenance?
Fistuloplasty is a procedure to restore adequate blood flow in your AV fistula so that you can continue successful haemodialysis.
Why perform Fistula Maintenance?
Over time, narrowings may occur at any part of your AV fistula circuit, which reduces the flow to the haemodialysis machine. Not only does this increase the time required for dialysis, but can also lead to complete blockage of your fistula. A fistuloplasty is used to open up the narrowed segment, thereby restoring normal flow.
How does Fistula Maintenance work?
This procedure can be done under sedation, or occasionally generally anaesthetic, in an operating room with specialised medical imaging equipment. Your interventional radiologist will do an ultrasound of your fistula and decide where to access the circuit. A small tube will be placed into the fistula and contrast (x-ray dye) injected to outline the anatomy of the circuit. A fine wire will be used to cross the narrowed segment. A balloon catheter will be passed over the wire and the narrowed segment widened by temporary inflation of the balloon. Once flow has been restored, the tubes and wires will be removed and a small stitch placed in the skin to stop any ooze.
Contact Us
appointments:
For appointment requests, please phone 0497 052 070. For general enquiries, please complete the contact form and a member of the VIRQ team will respond shortly.
Address:
Suite 20, 3 Doherty Street, Birtinya, QLD, 4575, Australia
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For all appointments and enquiries, please phone:
Our office is attended Monday - Friday from 9am - 5.30pm.