title: Echo color Doppler ultrasound: a valuable diagnostic tool in the assessment of arteriovenous fistula in hemodialysis patients.
abstract: A functioning vascular access is a critical requirement to improve the quality of life in hemodialysis patients, so monitoring and surveillance of vascular access play key roles in identifying all dysfunctions and reducing the huge economic cost as well as adequacy of dialysis.In our five-year experience, a study protocol has been used and improved with the help of ultrasonography.Doppler ultrasound is an excellent and sensitive modality for hemodialysis access evaluation, one of techniques employed for arteriovenous fistulae (AVF) study, not only as a preoperative tool, but also in post-operative monitoring of AVF maturation. In addition, the current guidelines recommend AVF surveillance by access blood flow measurement and the correction of hemodynamic stenosis in order to prolong access survival. Doppler ultrasound is readily available, directly used by nephrologists, non-invasive, safe, inexpensive, reproducible, although it requires more clinical skill and time to perform and proper equipment. Ultrasonography imaging can substantially reduce the number of subsequent invasive angiographic procedures. In our opinion, Doppler ultrasound should have a crucial place in the interdisciplinary cooperation in AVF monitoring and it should be included as part of an integrated vascular access management program.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology and Dialysis, "Cardinale G. Panico" Hospital, Tricase, Lecce - Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mudoni
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology and Dialysis, "Cardinale G. Panico" Hospital, Tricase, Lecce - Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Caccetta
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology and Dialysis, "Cardinale G. Panico" Hospital, Tricase, Lecce - Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caroppo
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology and Dialysis, "Cardinale G. Panico" Hospital, Tricase, Lecce - Italy.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Musio
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology and Dialysis, "Cardinale G. Panico" Hospital, Tricase, Lecce - Italy.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Accogli
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology and Dialysis, "Cardinale G. Panico" Hospital, Tricase, Lecce - Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Dolores
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Zacheo
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology and Dialysis, "Cardinale G. Panico" Hospital, Tricase, Lecce - Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Domenica
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Burzo
authors.affiliation: Nephrology and Dialysis Unit, Ospedale San Carlo Borromeo, Milan - Italy.|Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences 'L. Sacco', University of Milan, Milan - Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gallieni
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology and Dialysis, "Cardinale G. Panico" Hospital, Tricase, Lecce - Italy.
authors.forename: Vitale
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nuzzo
mesh_terms: D001166:Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D014654:Vascular Patency