AN INTEGRATED VASCULAR MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME

Abstract

This paper discusses the development of an integrated approach for the creation and maintenance of arteriovenous access (AVA), under the direction of a dedicated vascular access surgeon in close cooperation with the haemodialysis staff, involving pre-operative imaging, anaesthetic and surgical techniques together with a post-operative graft surveillance programme, in order to maximize autogenous arteriovenous access (AAVA) construction (the preferred access for haemodialysis patients with end-stage renal disease), and to improve patency rates for AAVA and prosthetic arteriovenous access (PAVA).