Fistulogram

Many patients with renal disease need dialysis in order to remove waste and keep the solutes in their blood balanced. This is due to the fact that their kidney(s) are not functioning properly. In order to receive dialysis, patients must have a fistula, which will be the access point for dialysis. A fistula is an artificial connection between the artery and vein, usually created in the arm.

Fistulas can become clogged and narrowed, causing complications to dialysis. A fistulogram allows us to observe the blood flow through the fistula to diagnose any possible complications. It is a minimally invasive procedure, performed with just a puncture and catheters.

If a clot or stenosis is detected, there are a variety of minimally invasive procedures we can perform to open up the fistula again. Some of these procedures are Angioplasty or Thrombolysis.