Vaskulárna medicína 4/2011

Colour duplex ultrasonography of haemodialysis arteriovenous access

Colour duplex ultrasonography is a non-invasive and repeatable method. It enables the assessment of vascular system before the surgical creation of haemodialysis arteriovenous access, being the method of choice in this situation. Exact examination of the vascular bed anatomy together with evaluation of the vascular wall and its flexibility is essential for choosing the most suitable site for arteriovenous fistula creation and thus reducing the risk of possible complications. Moreover, it is very useful for detection of haemodialysis fistula pathology, especially thrombosis and stenosis, as well as nearby extraluminal complications. Its sensitivity and specificity ranges from 91 to 98%. In contrast to angiography, colour duplex ultrasonography is a more easily accessible method, which can be repeated any time due to its noninvasivity. Early identification of possible complications at the site of haemodialysis fistula leads to an early percutaneous or surgical intervention, improving the prognosis, functionality and long-term patency of haemodialysis access.

Keywords: arteriovenous haemodialysis fistula, colour duplex ultrasonography, thrombosis, stenosis