AV Fistula & Graft Maintenance
Episode Summary
Dr. Ari Kramer was recently on the BackTable VI Podcast with Dr. Chris Beck. They discussed AV fistula and graft maintenance in dialysis patients from creation to long-term care, as well as tips and tricks for treating stenoses.
On Episode 139, titled “AV Fistula & Graft Maintenance,” Dr. Kramer describes the referral patterns that lead dialysis patients to his practice, citing the need to coordinate dialysis care around a common surgical practice. He works closely with nephrologists and dialysis centers to ensure quality of care and streamlined patient management. During an initial workup, Dr. Kramer includes a physical assessment and an echocardiogram to establish a baseline.
Dr. Kramer and Dr. Beck then discuss the pros and cons of using AV fistulas versus grafts. Dr. Kramer emphasizes the importance of understanding a patient’s cardiac performance and history before selecting a method of AV access. He also schedules periodic follow-up appointments to ensure that the access site reaches maturity, which is evaluated by the Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (KDOQI) guidelines.
Dr. Kramer also discusses devices and procedures for angioplasty, stent placement and drug coated balloon placement. Finally, he addresses strategies for managing re-stenosis and considerations for patient preferences regarding surgical revision.
About BackTable VI Podcast
The BackTable VI podcast was developed to help interventional radiologists, vascular surgeons, interventional cardiologists, and other interventional and endovascular specialists level up their day-to-day practice. Tune in to the BackTable Interventional Radiology Podcast.
