Overview:
There are 4 different types of dialysis access placements that we do at The Vascular Institute of Birmingham. Central Venous Catheter, Arteriovenous Fistula, Arteriovenous Graft, and Peritoneal Dialysis Catheter are all administered by our physicians.
Central Venous Catheter (CVC):
The first type of access we’ll look at is a central venous catheter (CVC), which is a flexible, long, plastic, y-shaped tube that is threaded through your skin into a central vein in your neck, chest or groin. A CVC is not usually intended to be a permanent type of access. If you need immediate or emergency dialysis or cannot receive and don’t have an AV fistula or graft, you will require a CVC.
Arteriovenous Fistula:
The second type of dialysis access is an AV fistula, which is an actual surgical connection made between an artery and a vein. An AV fistula is most often created in your non-dominate arm, but sometimes it can be created in your leg. This access results in an increased blood flow rate through the vein, which helps enlarge and strengthen the vein. An AV fistula allows a higher rate of blood to flow back and forth from your vein to a dialysis machine.
Arteriovenous Graft:
The third type of access, called an AV graft, functions similarly to an AV fistula. If you have blocked or damaged veins, or veins that are too small for a fistula, you may be a candidate for an AV graft. AV graft placement is also a surgical procedure, but instead of connecting the artery directly to the vein, one end of a small hollow, synthetic tube will be connected to your vein, and the other end will be connected to your artery.
Peritoneal Dialysis Catheter:
A PD catheter is used for peritoneal dialysis, which uses the lining of your belly and a dialysate solution to clean your blood.
This type of dialysis can be a desirable method for people who are always on the go. With a PD catheter, dialysis can be performed at home and takes less time to accomplish.