Ultrasound Diagnostics of Hemodynamic Changes in Arteriovenous Fistula for Hemodialysis: Review

Abstract

The socioeconomic significance of chronic kidney disease in the terminal stage is due to the fact that expensive methods of treatment are required, the number of patients on hemodialysis increases annually and most of them are of working age. The most preferred vascular access for hemodialysis treatment is an arteriovenous fistula, yet its dysfunction occurs in more than 30% of patients. Adequate long-term functioning of the fistula depends on its successful maturation, timely diagnosis and elimination of possible complications of permanent vascular access. The main method for diagnosing dysfunction of an arteriovenous fistula is duplex ultrasound, which allows determining the diameters, the state of the walls and blood vessels lumen, the access flow, identifying such complications as stenosis of inflow artery, anastomotic zone and outflow vein, fistula thrombosis, hand ischemia. Ultrasound diagnosis of vascular access complications allows for their timely correction, which increases the duration of fistula adequate functioning.