Dialysis Access
Patients with kidney disease may need dialysis, a treatment that
cleanses and filters the blood. We offer our patients options for both
hemodialysis, which uses a machine, and peritoneal dialysis, which uses your
stomach lining. For hemodialysis patients, we tailor your treatment to
accommodate your unique anatomy.
The Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center’s Heart & Vascular Center
is also one of the largest centers for peritoneal
dialysis in the Piedmont region.
Types of Dialysis Access at Wake Forest
For hemodialysis patients, we commonly use the wrist or forearm for dialysis access. We offer
fistula, graft and catheter-based techniques. Whenever possible, we try to use
an AV fistula, considered the "gold standard" for dialysis access.
For patients who are not fistula candidates, we also use grafts and
catheters.
- Arteriovenous (AV) fistula: Your doctor connects a vein to an artery
to create an AV fistula. The fistula takes a few months to develop after
surgery. Once formed, it can last for years, providing access with good
blood flow.
- Graft:
Your doctor connects an artery to a vein by inserting a graft, or plastic
tube, under your skin. A graft can be used for dialysis within a few weeks
of placement.
- HeRO Graft: The HeRO graft is an option for
patients with limited dialysis access who have previously undergone
treatment often. It provides an alternative to tunneled dialysis
catheters. With the help of X-ray imaging, your doctor inserts a tube
(called the outflow component)
into a large vein in your neck. This tube connects to a regular dialysis
graft placed in an artery.
You and your doctor will decide which type of dialysis access is right for you. Your doctor will consider many factors, such as
whether veins are blocked or too small to use, and how quickly you need to
start dialysis treatment.
Peritoneal Dialysis at Wake Forest
You may be a candidate for peritoneal dialysis, a process that you can
perform on your own at home. If you are eligible, your doctor inserts a small
catheter into your abdomen, which sits along the lining of your abdomen, called
the peritoneal membrane.
Wake Forest Baptist Health offers two types of peritoneal
dialysis:
- Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD): You attach yourself to a machine four
to five times a day for 30-minute sessions.
- Automated Peritoneal Dialysis (APD): You attach yourself to a machine for 10-12
hours at night, while asleep.
Contact Us
Request
an appointment online. Or, for more information,
please call:
- 336-716-WAKE or
- 888-716-WAKE
(toll-free)