Guidelines for venous access in patients with chronic kidney disease. A Position Statement from the American Society of Diagnostic and Interventional Nephrology, Clinical Practice Committee and the Association for Vascular Access

Abstract

At the time of hemodialysis vascular access evaluation, many chronic kidney disease patients already have iatrogenic injury to their veins which impedes the surgical construction of an arteriovenous fistula (AVF). Achieving the important goal of a greater prevalence of arteriovenous fistulae in the US hemodialysis population will require identification of those patients prior to reaching end-stage renal disease and an educational and procedural system for preserving their veins.