About Dialysis Access

Renal failure is when the kidneys fail to remove many blood toxins and waste products from the blood. This results in a build up of toxic chemicals and metabolites in the blood stream making you sick. Removal of these toxins can be performed by a dialysis machine. Like a “washing machine”, dialysis washes and removes the blood of toxins, returning “clean” blood to you.

In order to process large amounts of blood for “washing”, an Arterio-Venous Fistula (AV Fistula) is formed. This is created by a Vascular Surgical operation connecting an arm artery to a vein. This allows a large volume of high flowing blood to pass into an arm vein which can then be accessed easily for dialysis.

Dr Gett has extensive experience in creating and maintaining AV Fistula’s for both the Greenslopes Private Dialysis Unit and The Mater Hospital Renal Unit. Critical in the care and maintenance of these fistulas is the use of duplex ultrasound scanning done by Precision Vascular Imaging.

Important in the care of your AV Fistula is the avoidance of blood tests, blood pressure cuffs or IV drips in your planned fistula arm. If you are unsure, please ask your kidney specialist, dialysis staff or Dr Gett for advice.