SPECIALTIES

FISTULOGRAM
Sometimes blood clots or blockages can interfere with your dialysis. The fistulogram helps the doctor find any blockages so they can be cleared or bypassed. During this procedure, a contrast dye is injected into your fistula, making it visible on x-ray.

ENDOVASCULAR SURGERY (ANGIOPLASTY/STENT)
Often times a study will indicate the presence of a narrowed area (stenosis) of the outflow vein or inflow artery. Many times a balloon can be placed across the a narrow area and expanded to make it opened again (angioplasty). This can help the access from blocking up completely and clotting.

THROMBECTOMY/THROMBOLYSIS
Commonly called a “Declot,” this procedure involves removing blood clots from the dialysis access to allow restored blood flow and adequate dialysis treatment.

STENTING
Sometimes a narrowed area will not respond to a balloon procedure alone. If the doctor feels it is appropriate, a metallic device called a “Stent” can be placed across a narrowed area. A balloon is used to open the stent and keep the narrowed area open.

TUNNELED CUFFED CATHETER PLACEMENT, EXCHANGE OR REMOVAL
For immediate dialysis needs or for long-term dialysis access, a Tunneled Cuffed Catheter may be placed while a fistula or graft is maturing. Due to the possibilities of complications, the Tunneled Cuffed Catheter may also need to be exchanged or replaced.

PERIPHERAL ARTERY DISEASE TREATMENT
(PAD) is the narrowing or “hardening of the arteries.” Our center uses a wide variety of minimally invasive procedures to help diagnose and treat PAD. Some of the treatments used include laser, balloon angioplasty and stenting.

RENAL ANGIOGRAM
A renal angiogram is an X-ray study of blood vessels to the kidney. X-rays are taken while contrast dye is injected into a catheter (a tiny tube) that has been placed into these blood vessels to detect any signs of blockage, narrowing, or other abnormalities affecting the blood supply to the kidneys. If a narrowing is found, a stent may be placed to help open up the artery.

ABDOMINAL ARTERIOGRAM
These x-rays show how blood flows through the aorta, the major artery leading out of the heart, and through the abdomen. The doctor will place a small catheter through the groin. Once the catheter is in place, dye is injected into it. X-ray images are taken to see how the dye move through the aorta.

This test may be performed to see if the aorta is blocked, narrowed, leaking, or enlarged (aneurysmal).