title: Preoperative radiological assessment for vascular access.
abstract: There is increasing evidence that routine preoperative duplex scanning ultrasound cannot only increase the utilisation of native AVF for dialysis access but also allow proper selection of a target vessel with adequate luminal diameter to improve outcome. A minimum arterial diameter of 2mm is associated with successful fistula formation. A threshold for minimal venous diameter is difficult to establish. Most clinical studies use a value of 2.5mm for AVF and 4mm for prosthetic grafts. Traditional contrast venography is mandatory where there is suspicion of central vein stenosis. In predialysis patients where there is a risk of contrast nephropathy MR venography is emerging as a possible alternative.
authors.affiliation: Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK. Peter.Brown@sth.nhs.uk
authors.forename: P W G
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D001166:Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D001367:Axillary Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy; D010690:Phlebography / Q000379:methods*; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex / Q000379:methods*