Dialysis

Optimum Hemodialysis Access, Procedures, and Treatment

Dr. Ghanami is a board certified, fellowship trained vascular surgeon with experience and expertise in performing the following procedures:
We work with a patient’s nephrology team to help provide the patient with the most appropriate dialysis access for his/her particular situation.

In the human body, the kidneys are responsible for filtering out waste from the blood, as well as regulating the body’s mineral and water levels. Healthy kidneys usually filter between 120 to 150 quarts of blood, but if your kidneys aren’t working properly, toxins and waste buildup can cause serious problems, resulting in coma or even death.

What are Dialysis and Hemodialysis?

Dialysis is a treatment that can do what the kidneys should be doing – filtering the blood and keeping waste from reaching dangerous levels. If you suffer from severe kidney problems, there is a good chance that you are on dialysis.

There are different types of dialysis, but the one we assist when performing dialysis access procedures is called hemodialysis. Hemodialysis uses a vein enlarged surgically to accommodate catheters that remove blood and return it during treatment. The blood travels through the catheter to a machine that filters out toxins and excess fluid. The purified blood is then returned to the body through the second catheter. The advantage of vascular access for hemodialysis is the large amount of blood that can flow continuously through the machine during treatment – nearly a pint every minute.

What to Expect Before and After Surgery

When we perform dialysis access procedures at Southern Vascular Clinic, we work with a patient’s nephrology team to help provide the patient with the most appropriate dialysis access for his/her particular situation. We understand that we are one player in a team of people working hard to provide a patient with the best outcome from dialysis care.

Dr. Ghanami works directly with patients in preparation for dialysis access surgery. We regularly utilize ultrasound exams, x-rays, or venograms to determine the most appropriate intervention for a particular patient. Our preferred method for hemodialysis is a fistula in the patient’s non dominant arm, however, other means for access may be recommended. We will continue to see the patient after surgery until the access is suitable for use. Once a fistula or graft is “mature,” the dialysis center will monitor the access and contact us if there are any concerns.

Providing long-term dialysis access options, while minimizing complications and inconvenience, is a role that we take seriously at Southern Vascular Clinic.