Clinical surveillance and monitoring of arteriovenous access for hemodialysis.

Clinical surveillance and monitoring of arteriovenous access for hemodialysis can best ensure long term access function. The failing access can be identified and referred for intervention prior to complete access failure. This article reviews the basic science of access function and the various techniques for detecting the failing access. These techniques are utilized by the dialysis unit staff and by the physician, often the interventionalist, who takes primary care of the access. A combination of various techniques to detect dysfunction and trend analysis of various parameters is most likely to identify in a timely manner, those patients who need intervention.