Adequacy of Dialysis

Adequacy of dialysis is evaluated by Kt/V (pronounced “kay tee over vee”).  Kt/V is used to measure how effective a dialysis treatment is in removing toxins, waste and fluid from the blood.  National guidelines recommend a target Kt/V of at least 1.4 for each dialysis treatment.

AV Access

Arteriovenous access to the bloodstream, also called a “vascular access,” allows blood to travel to and from the dialysis machine at a large volume and high speed so that toxins, waste and extra fluid can be removed from the body.

AV Fistula

An arteriovenous fistula is created by directly connecting an artery and vein – usually in the arm.

AV Graft

An arteriovenous graft is similar to a fistula because it is also an artery to vein connection under the skin; however, the graft is a synthetic tube rather than a direct connection that connects the artery to the vein.

Central Venous Stenosis

Central venous stenosis occurs when the large central veins in the upper body that feed into the heart become damaged or blocked which may slow or stop blood flow through your access.

Declot

Declot is the process of removing a blockage (clot) from a vascular access to restore flow and make dialysis more effective.

Long-Term Catheter

A catheter is a synthetic tube placed into a vein, usually in the neck, chest or groin that is intended to be used for dialysis for a long period of time.

Tourniquet

A device used to constrict or compress blood flow to an area for a period of time.