Dialysis Access Creation and Management in San Antonio

Expert Physicians. EXCEPTIONAL AND COMPASSIONATE CARE.

The accredited team at Total Vascular Care specializes in the entire range of the dialysis access process, from initial planning and creating a functional dialysis access to maintaining functionality and overall vascular health. We keep the patient at the center of our care while applying the most advanced medical knowledge and technology to achieve the best health outcomes.

Contact Us

Our Process for Vascular Dialysis

As a full-service Accredited Ambulatory Surgical Center, we perform screenings, establish vascular access for dialysis, and maintain the access site over time. When we anticipate dialysis will be needed in the future, we take action as soon as possible to ensure the fistula will be ready to support dialysis when needed.

Initial Planning and Dialysis Access Surgery

The first phase will involve screening to identify the best access point for a fistula that will support your body’s needs. To begin, we perform an ultrasound of the arteries and veins in your arms, a process called vein mapping. Once we’ve identified the best access point, our specialists will schedule the dialysis vascular access surgery. Minimally invasive, this procedure involves joining an artery and a vein into a vessel called a fistula to support dialysis.

Ongoing Vascular Health Maintenance

After a fistula is created, maintenance may be required to ensure successful dialysis treatments. Your doctor may perform a fistulogram to check for narrowing of the vessels or any abnormalities that require an angioplasty or stent to improve blood flow. Additional services may include thrombectomy procedures to remove clots in dialysis access, as well as catheter placement and subsequent removal if dialysis is needed immediately, before a permanent access site is ready in your arm.

Additional Treatments We Offer

Our nephrologist partners at South Texas Kidney Care are equipped to handle comprehensive treatments for kidney concerns. Areas of expertise include:

Our experienced specialists are here to help with compassionate, comprehensive, and convenient care. Contact us today with any questions or to make an appointment.

Get the Care You Need at Our Nearby Clinics

If you have any concerns about vascular or kidney health or know you may need dialysis soon, don’t wait. Reach out to our team today to schedule an appointment online or by giving us a call.

Contact Us

A well-functioning vascular access is essential for performing effective hemodialysis. Hemodialysis, or kidney dialysis, is a blood purification procedure. A person with end-stage kidney disease relies on dialysis to mechanically remove fluids, electrolytes and waste products from their blood. Nearly 500,000 people in the United States depend on dialysis to keep their blood free of toxins each year.

What is vascular access?

Vascular access is a surgically created vein that quickly and easily accesses a person’s blood. This access point allows large amounts of blood to flow continuously from the body through a dialysis machine for purification and back to the body.

Proper management of a vascular access

You can avoid complications like infection, stenosis, thrombosis and hemorrhage through proper management of your vascular access point. Here are a few tips:

Make sure the dialysis needle stick locations are rotated to prevent stenosis and thrombosis (deep vein blood clots) from forming.
Confirm the vascular access is functioning properly several times per day. Our skilled specialists will show you how it is supposed to react.
Look for any bleeding following dialysis treatment.
Watch for signs of infection around the access point.
Keep the vascular access and surrounding skin clean and dry.
Avoid any tight-fitting clothing or jewelry to ensure medical professionals can access the site easily.
Do not use any creams or lotions on the vascular access site.

Vascular access should be established well in advance of your first dialysis to give the lifeline a chance to mature, so it can be ready to use. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with kidney disease, contact South Texas Renal Care Group at 210-212-8622 to schedule an appointment.