AV fistula (AVF) stands for arteriovenous fistula, which is a surgical connection created between an artery and a vein with the help of AV shunt. The role of AV fistula is to provide a channel or access point that is capable of withstanding the dialysis treatment multiple times without causing any damage. It is generally created in the arm or legs. The fistula is important for people who have chronic kidney diseases and have to receive hemodialysis 2-3 times a week.
If your kidney doctor or nephrologist has recommended that you should undergo AV fistula surgery for dialysis, you can get in touch with Pristyn Care and consult our vascular specialists in Mumbai at your convenience.
USFDA Approved Procedures
No Cuts. No Wounds. Painless*.
Insurance Paperwork Support
.svg){kind=small}
1 Day Procedure
Treatment
Diagnosis for AV Fistula
Before creating vascular access (AV fistula) for dialysis, the vascular surgeon will ask about your medical history to identify if you have any other underlying conditions. Preoperative diagnosis of the veins and arteries is also done. A thorough diagnosis of the arterial and venous system is necessary, especially for patients who have grade 4 or 5 Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) or other conditions like diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, etc.
Various imaging tests, such as doppler ultrasound, CT angiogram, MRA (magnetic resonance angiogram), modified Allen test, and other tests are also done to examine the axillary, brachial, radial, and ulnar pulses in both upper extremities.
An Ultrasound or angiogram is used to determine the size and depth of the arteries and the veins to decide whether or not the blood vessels can support the AV fistula.
The whole analysis is also known as vessel mapping. The results of the diagnostic procedures will help to determine whether AV fistula surgery is the safest option for dialysis access or not.
AV Fistula Surgery for Dialysis
Before creating vascular access (AV fistula) for dialysis, the vascular surgeon will ask about your medical history to identify if you have any other underlying conditions. Preoperative diagnosis of the veins and arteries is also done. A thorough diagnosis of the arterial and venous system is necessary, especially for patients who have grade 4 or 5 Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) or other conditions like diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, etc.
Various imaging tests, such as doppler ultrasound, CT angiogram, MRA (magnetic resonance angiogram), modified Allen test, and other tests are also done to examine the axillary, brachial, radial, and ulnar pulses in both upper extremities.
An Ultrasound or angiogram is used to determine the size and depth of the arteries and the veins to decide whether or not the blood vessels can support the AV fistula.
The whole analysis is also known as vessel mapping. The results of the diagnostic procedures will help to determine whether AV fistula surgery is the safest option for dialysis access or not.
AV fistula surgery for dialysis, also known as Vascular Access Surgery, is usually performed through minimally invasive techniques. The doctor will administer local anesthesia in the access site and the following steps will be carried out-
The surgery is performed on an outpatient basis and takes around an hour to complete. The patient is discharged on the same day and the surgeon will give you specific instructions that will help you to take care of the access arm.
Delivering Seamless Surgical Experience in India
Your safety is taken care of by thermal screening, social distancing, sanitized clinics and hospital rooms, sterilized surgical equipment and mandatory PPE kits during surgery.
A dedicated Care Coordinator assists you throughout the surgery journey from insurance paperwork, to free commute from home to hospital & back and admission-discharge process at the hospital.
Our surgeons spend a lot of time with you to diagnose your condition. You are assisted in all pre-surgery medical diagnostics. We offer advanced laser and laparoscopic surgical treatment. Our procedures are USFDA approved.
We offer free follow-up consultations and instructions including dietary tips as well as exercises to every patient to ensure they have a smooth recovery to their daily routines.
Doctors generally recommend that the patients undergo AV fistula surgery at least six months before the first session of dialysis treatment is scheduled. The fistula may take several weeks to heal and become sturdy enough to withstand the dialysis.
The normal veins in the body carry smaller amounts of blood as compared to arteries which makes it harder for the dialysis machine to filter blood efficiently. The AV fistula makes extra blood flow through the veins regularly that leads to enlargement of the vein and makes it stronger. Untreated veins would collapse due to repeated needle insertions and under strong suction. Thus, it is crucial that the veins are enlarged and strong to bear the extra pressure and extra blood flow.
In most cases, the radial artery and the cephalic vein in the patient’s wrist are combined to create the AV fistula for dialysis treatment.
There are two common types of arteriovenous fistulas created for dialysis-
On average, AV fistula surgery for dialysis will cost you around Rs. 80,000 to Rs. 1,50,000. This is only an estimated cost that may vary based on factors, such as type of fistula created, doctor’s fee, graft/shunt cost (if any), diagnostic tests, etc.
To find the best vascular surgeon in Mumbai who can perform AV fistula surgery for dialysis as well as other vascular access surgeries safely, follow the tips below-
Whether you are living in Mumbai or any other city in India, Pristyn Care is the best place to find the most qualified and experienced surgeons. We have a dedicated team of vascular surgeons who have more than 15 years of experience in performing vascular access surgeries safely. You can rely on their expertise and get the respective treatment from them.
The alternative method used for patients who cannot undergo AV fistula surgery due to weakness in blood vessels is AV graft surgery or venous catheter. In the graft surgery procedure, an artificial vein is installed in the body that allows dialysis. If immediate dialysis is required, the same can be done with the help of a venous catheter until the long-term solution is created.
Among the three possible vascular access methods- AV fistula, AV graft, and venous catheter, AV fistula is a preferable method for dialysis because-
Yes. Whether you are undergoing arteriovenous fistula surgery for dialysis or any other form of vascular access surgery, the procedure will be covered under the health insurance policy. Thus, you can use the policy to cover the entire expense of the treatment.
Yes. We provide No-Cost EMI service for all types of treatment, including for AV fistula creation for effective dialysis treatment regardless of the city. With this service, you can pay for the treatment in easy installments.
Fistula maturation is generally defined with the help of the 6S rule, which includes-
As the skin is cut to create a fistula, there will be a visible scar on the skin. Over time, as the skin heals from the surgery, the scar will fade away and may become unnoticeable.
Generally, it will take almost a month or so to recover completely after undergoing an AV fistula or vascular access surgery. The exact recovery time will be different for each individual. Thus, the surgeon will give you an estimate and plan for faster recovery.
You will have to take 2-3 follow-ups after undergoing AVF surgery for dialysis. The first follow-up will be recommended within 7-10 days to see if the body is healing properly. The second follow-up will be done after 3-4 weeks to ensure that the fistula is working and there are no complications. When the recovery is complete, the final follow-up will take place after 6 weeks to check whether the fistula has matured or not.
An arteriovenous fistula is very important for patients who have to undergo dialysis due to kidney failure. During dialysis, the impure blood is taken out from the veins, filtered outside the body with the help of a dialysis machine, and then the pure blood is transferred to the arteries.
The same procedure is repeated multiple times until the patient finds a healthy kidney for transplant.
To make the dialysis successful, it is important that the blood vessels can bear the pressure of the blood entering them. Typically, the veins are small and only about 30-40 ml of blood flows through them per minute. The goal is to make the veins strong and thick enough that they can tolerate the blood pressure and frequent insertion/exertion of the dialysis needles.
This is why an arteriovenous (AV) fistula is needed for long-term and adequate hemodialysis treatment.
Once the arteriovenous fistula is created, it is left to heal. The actual use of the fistula begins when the first session of hemodialysis takes place. The patient is given local anesthetic cream to apply on the skin above the fistula, and two needles are inserted into it. One needle goes into the vein and the other goes into the artery. The arterial needle is connected to the vein and it carries the blood from the body to the dialyzer. The venous needle is connected to the artery and carries fresh and filtered blood back to the body.
The entire dialysis treatment takes around 3-4 hours, and each time the needles are connected and ejected from the blood vessels. Throughout the treatment, you won’t feel any kind of pain or discomfort.
Similar to other surgeries, the creation of an AV fistula also has some potential risks and complications. However, only a minority of the patients experience these complications.
Most of the risks associated with surgery can be mitigated by an experienced vascular specialist.
To consult the expert vascular surgeons in Mumbai for AVF surgery, i.e., to create an arteriovenous fistula for dialysis, you only need to get in touch with us. You can use any of the following ways to schedule your appointment-
You can schedule the consultation before and after the procedure at your convenience.
.svg)
© 2023 by PRISTYN CARE
Pristyn Care is a trademark of GHV Advanced Care Private
Limited
Doctor available
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
