Dialysis Management Santa Fe
If you live in the Albuquerque area and are receiving hemodialysis, you may have heard of stenting, but are unsure what it is or why it’s used. Stenting can help keep your fistula open, ensuring that you continue to receive enough blood flow from the dialysis process to keep your kidneys working at their best. Keep reading to learn more about stenting for hemodialysis fistulas in Albuquerque!
Dialysis and Hemodialysis
Hemodialysis is a medical procedure that removes excess fluid and wastes from the body, allowing patients to live healthier lives. Patients with dialysis fistulas have unique needs. The flow through the fistula must be maintained above a certain level to allow adequate hemodialysis. In order to maintain this level, a stent may be placed into the patient’s fistula. Stents are small metal or plastic devices that help keep an opening open so blood can flow through freely.
Types of Vascular Plugs
Patients with a dialysis fistula need to have their fistula flow maintained above a certain level to allow adequate hemodialysis. A common way to maintain this level is through the use of vascular plugs. These plugs are placed inside the fistula and will keep it open so that blood can freely flow through it.
Vascular plugs are typically made from silicone or foam, which will then expand once they are inserted into the fistula.
Dialysis Fistulae Stenting Procedure
A fistulae stent placement is an outpatient procedure that will allow the patient to continue with hemodialysis. The surgery takes about one hour and is done under local anesthesia. A small incision is made on the arm, over the fistula, and a catheter is inserted through the skin into the fistula. An endovascular stent is then inserted into the vein leading to the dialysis catheter.
What to expect after stent placement?
After the stent is in place, we need to make sure that it stays open. We will do this by following certain precautions.
We will ask you not to get your fistula wet or take a bath or shower until your fistula has healed enough to stay open without the stent.
We will also ask you not to lift anything heavy, work out or play sports until your fistula has healed enough to stay open without the stent.
Where can you find more information?
In the United States, dialysis is performed using either a hemodialyzer or peritoneal dialysis. A hemodialyzer is a machine that does the work of the kidney. It removes toxins from the blood and produces clean blood cells, similar to how your kidneys would do. The process takes about three hours and can be done at home or at a local clinic.
