Unit of Vascular Access
The Vascular Access Unit is led by the Clínic Institute of Nephrology and Urology. The main objective of the Unit is to ensure comprehensive and multidisciplinary coverage of the centre's reference population (400 prevalent patients and 150 incident patients in the haemodialysis programme), as well as adequate planning in the implementation of a new vascular access to outpatients with advanced chronic kidney disease (ACKD) who choose haemodialysis as renal replacement therapy.
Since April 2014, and in line with an agreement with CatSalut, the Unit represents an area of support and reference for vascular complications in patients on haemodialysis programmes throughout Catalonia. The Vascular Unit is made up of different specialists in the fields of nephrology, interventional vascular radiology, vascular surgery and infectious diseases.
In summary, in 2023 a total of 752 endovascular procedures, 314 surgical procedures, and 619 outpatient visits were performed, with 392 handheld ultrasound scans.
Diseases, tests and procedures
Meet our professionals
The unit team is made up of two surgeons from the Cardiovascular Surgery Service, four specialists in angioradiology from the Radiology Service, a specialist from the Infectious Diseases Service, two specialists in nephrology and a nurse from the Nephrology and Renal Transplantation Service. They all work in coordination for the implantation and management of hemodialysis vascular access complications, whether native arteriovenous fistulas, vascular prostheses or permanent tunnelled catheters, depending on the needs of the patients.