Types of Dialysis Access | MedStar Health

Creating a way for your blood to reach a dialysis machine

If you have kidney failure, you’ll need dialysis therapy to clean and filter your blood. A surgically created vascular access allows blood to travel through the dialysis machine and return to the body.

The surgeons in our Vascular and Endovascular Program partner with kidney specialists (nephrologists) to provide you with the best options available. If at some point your dialysis access point becomes narrowed or clogged, they also can help resume normal blood flow.

What types of vascular access are available?

Your doctor will work with you to find the type of vascular access that will be most effective for your care. Potential options include:

  • Catheter access: Immediate or temporary access can be created using two plastic tubes connected to blood vessels in your neck or groin. Catheters have the highest rate of infection and are not often used for long-term dialysis.

  • Dialysis fistula: This is formed by connecting an artery to a vein in the arm. The connection to the artery causes the vein to grow over time and have a higher blood flow for dialysis. This type of access has the lowest rate of infection and can provide good blood flow for many years.

  • Dialysis graft: Tubing is used to connect an artery to a vein, often in the arm. The graft allows for dialysis to be performed sooner than with a fistula, but the rate of infection is higher because the access is not formed using natural tissue.

Tests

Fluoroscopy

A fluoroscopy is an imaging technique that uses a continuous X-ray beam passed through the body to create real-time, moving images of your internal structures.

Our locations

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MedStar Health: Vascular Surgery at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center

9101 Franklin Square Dr.
MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center
Suite 212
Baltimore, MD 21237

443-777-1901

MedStar Health: Vascular Surgery at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital - Calvert Street Building

3300 North Calvert Street
First Floor
Baltimore, MD 21218

410-261-8226

MedStar Health: Vascular Surgery at MedStar Washington Hospital Center - Physician Office Building

106 Irving Street NW
Physician Office Bldg.
Suite 3150 North Tower
Washington, DC 20010

202-877-0456

MedStar Health: Vascular Surgery at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital

3800 Reservoir Road Northwest
Pasquerilla Healthcare Center
Building 4
Washington, DC 20007

877-367-2434

MedStar Health: Vascular Surgery at MedStar Montgomery Medical Center

18101 Prince Philip Drive
Suite 5200
Olney, MD 20832

410-657-1947

MedStar Health: Vascular Surgery at MedStar St. Mary's Hospital

25500 Point Lookout Road
Ste 200
Leonardtown, MD 20650

240-434-4022

MedStar Health: Vascular Surgery at MedStar Harbor Hospital

3001 South Hanover Street
Suite 216
Baltimore, MD 21225

410-261-8226

Insurance

MedStar Health accepts most major health insurance plans. If you are uncertain as to whether your individual health insurance plan is accepted at MedStar Health, please call your insurance company.