Arteriovenous fistula and graft evaluation in hemodialysis patients using MDCT: a primer.
OBJECTIVE
Patent arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is related to better prognosis and quality of life for patients on long-term dialysis. When AVF dysfunction is suspected, MDCT is a good noninvasive tool for evaluating the entire AVF structure and determining reversible conditions for treatment. The aim of this article is to introduce the scanning and interpretation techniques and to illustrate the conditions related to early and late fistula failures.


CONCLUSIONS
MDCT is a fast, noninvasive, and accurate technique for diagnosing AVF complications. Radiologists familiar with these techniques can help to improve the prognosis and quality of life for hemodialysis patients.
Chen
Min-Chi
MC
Department of Radiology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, No. 160, Sec. 3, Taichung Harbor Rd., Taichung 407, Taiwan.
Tsai
Wei-Lin
WL
Tsai
I-Chen
IC
Chan
Si-Wa
SW
Liao
Wan-Chun
WC
Lin
Pao-Chun
PC
Yang
Su Jing
SJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001132:Arm / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001166:Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed