HAEMODIALYSIS AND RELATED PROCEDURES

In haemodialysis, an artificial kidney (dialyzer) is used to remove waste and extra chemicals and fluid from your blood. To get your blood into the artificial kidney, the doctor needs to make an access (entrance) into your blood vessels. This is done by minor surgery to your neck or thigh where a narrow plastic tube (called a Catheter) is inserted into your blood vessels. This type of access may be temporary (Called Temp Cath), but is sometimes used for long-term treatment (Called Perm Cath)

Sometimes, an access is made by joining an artery to a vein under your skin to make a bigger blood vessel called a fistula.

However, if your blood vessels are not adequate for a fistula, the doctor may use a soft plastic tube to join an artery and a vein under your skin. This is called a graft.