AV graft maintenance.
Reliable dialysis access when a fistula isn't a fit — placed in an outpatient procedure, then kept open and working with proactive maintenance.
- OUTPATIENT
- 1–2 HOURS
- LOCAL ANESTHESIA
- MINOR INCISION
- INSURANCE COVERED
When a graft is the right call
Not every patient's vein anatomy can support a fistula — and some patients need to start dialysis sooner than fistula maturation allows. In those cases, an AV graft is the right answer: a small, biocompatible tube tunneled beneath the skin to connect an artery to a vein, creating the high-flow access dialysis requires.
Grafts can be used much sooner than fistulas — within 2–4 weeks, and some "early-use" grafts within days. They require slightly more active maintenance because they narrow predictably at the venous end.
With the right surveillance and timely angioplasty, modern grafts last for years.
The procedure, step by step
Placement plus surveillance, under one roof
Grafts are unforgiving — small narrowings progress quickly to clots. The advantage of having Dr. Anton both place and monitor your graft is continuity: he knows the geometry of your access from the day it was created and can act on ultrasound findings the same week.
Recovery and using the graft
You'll go home the same day with a small dressing over the placement site. Expect bruising, mild swelling, and some soreness for a week. Most patients return to daily activity within a few days, avoiding heavy lifting with the access arm.
Once cleared for cannulation, your dialysis team begins using the graft. We see you at regular intervals for ultrasound surveillance — typically every 3 months — to catch narrowings early. When detected, they're corrected with a quick outpatient angioplasty.
answers?