Hemodialysis

The Blank Vascular Center works with the Nephrology Department at Abington Memorial Hospital, as well as with outpatient hemodialysis units in the area, to coordinate the care of kidney patients who need hemodialysis (also called kidney dialysis.)

Before hemodialysis can take over the important job of removing waste from a patient's blood, an "access" - a way to easily reach large volumes of blood - must be developed. Several different types of accesses, usually in the arm, can be created.

All of these methods involve a short procedure stay at Abington Memorial Hospital:

• Fistula: This is made by connecting an artery to a nearby vein. Blood from an artery flows rapidly into the vein and enlarges it. This procedure may be done weeks or months before it is needed, in order to ensure a properly enlarged vein.

• Graft: A manmade tube may be sewn between an artery and a vein if a fistula is not possible. This can be ready to use in a few weeks.

• Central Vein Access: If either a fistula or a graft aren't right for a patient, a tube ("catheter") may be inserted into a vein in the neck to provide access to the bloodstream.