An arteriovenous fistula is used by patients with kidneys that have failed and they choose to have their blood cleaned by a machine. The fistula is created by connecting an artery to a vein, which results in the vein growing much larger due to the increased blood flow. This vascular access surgery prepares patients for dialysis by creating a large vein that can be repeatedly punctured with two needles to draw the blood out and return the blood after it has been cleaned in the dialysis machine. Dialysis patients travel as far as 180 miles to see Dr. Lucas for this procedure prior to starting dialysis and to correct problems with their fistula after starting dialysis.
Peritoneal dialysis is when a silicon tube is placed into the abdominal cavity and clean fluid is instilled, and after an hour or so, the fluid with the waste products is removed. This is repeated several times a day or often overnight. Dr. Lucas also inserts peritoneal dialysis catheters for patients who choose this method to clean their blood and he corrects problems with the catheter to allow it to function properly.
