AVF: The Gold Standard for Dialysis Access

An AVF (arterio-venous fistula) is a surgically created connection between an artery and a vein. It is created to make it easier, more comfortable and safer for patients on hemodialysis to receive their treatments. An AVF helps to reduce complications, infections and delays in dialysis treatment arising from clots and malfunctioning access ports. 

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service (CMS) has set a national goal of 66 percent of current hemodialysis patients having AFV access and 50 percent of new dialysis patients starting with an AVF. 

King's Daughters vascular/endovascular surgeons are experts when it comes to creating arteriovenous fistulas. They have helped patients and their dialysis centers achieve higher levels of compliance with Medicare requirements for AVF utilization - and a better quality of life for dialysis patients - for more than 10 years. They perform hundreds of AVF placements each year.

If you are a dialysis patient who has been told previously that you cannot have an AVF, it's time to ask again. New technology and techniques, vein mapping systems and advances in surgical technique have made it possible for patients who were previously told an AVF wasn't possible to have the procedure and successfully maintain the fistula.