Arterio-venous Fistula/Graft Assessment

Unfortunately, the incidence of end-stage renovascular disease is becoming a more significant and commonly encountered problem in our society. Glomerulonephritis, diabetes, atherosclerotic renal artery disease and other age-related nephropathies contribute to this toll. Careful assessment of the renal arteries in cases of difficult to control hypertension with colour duplex ultrasound can diagnose significant renal artery stenosis at a point in the disease process where appropriate intervention can both delay renal failure and also make hypertension easier to manage medically.

In patients who are being assessed for future pending dialysis needs, ultrasound provides an accurate and non-invasive technique for mapping upper limb arterial and venous anatomy allowing accurate planning for fistula and graft placement. Ultrasound also has a role in surveillance of grafts and fistulas in the dialysis patient population in order to identify significant stenoses or intraluminal thrombus prior to causing graft failure.

Indications:

• Difficult to control hypertension
• Planning of Arterio-venous fistula and grafts
• Surveillance of AVF and grafts

Patient preparation:

Nil preparation required.

Examination Duration:

30-45 minutes