Shunt surgery: the way to dialysis access

More and more people are dependent on blood purification. Dialysis shunt surgery provides the necessary vascular access. If you suffer from chronic renal insufficiency, your kidneys can no longer purify the blood on their own. Therefore, your blood must be purified regularly during a blood purification (dialysis) - now or in the near future.

Dialysis requires permanent, easily accessible and inflammation-proof access to the bloodstream. The human veins are not naturally designed to provide the necessary blood volume for dialysis.

An overview of our services

Our centre offers the entire range of services in dialysis access surgery. Depending on the individual requirements, the body's own vessels, prosthetic shunts or implantable dialysis catheters can be used.

• Initial installations and revisions (native and alloplastic) of shunts
• Open and closed insertion of a demers catheter
• Application of extreme shunts (e.g. iliaco-iliacal AV shunts, groin shunts, HeRO graft etc.)
• Treatment of possible complications such as shunt occlusion, bulging of the vessels or functional disorders
• Interventional and open procedures for widening or re-opening narrowed or blocked dialysis accesses
• Stent implantations

A shunt is a surgically created connection between vein and artery. It allows direct access to the bloodstream for dialysis. Usually an arm vein is connected to an artery. Arm veins transport the blood from the arm back to the heart with low pressure and slow flow. By supplying the arterial blood, the blood flow in this vessel is considerably increased.

It is not uncommon for a shunt that has been surgically placed to close again, as the connection between the artery and vein does not appear "natural" to the body. Permanent dialysis also puts a strain on the dialysis shunt and often requires revision surgery over time.

We offer you various surgical and interventional procedures for widening or re-opening narrowed or blocked dialysis accesses.

In order to dilate constrictions, we usually use catheter-assisted procedures. With the help of a contrast medium, which makes the vessels visible on the X-ray, the occlusion can be localized and expanded with a balloon catheter. In order to best preserve any residual kidney function, carbon dioxide is sometimes used as a contrast medium. In addition to the balloon dilatation, we usually use a vascular support (stent implantation) to prevent a renewed occlusion.

We are happy to advise you in detail about our range of treatments and are also there for you during aftercare.