Patient Information
The Vascular Access Centers are dedicated to caring and maintaining your dialysis access. Patients on dialysis understand the importance of blood to be easily taken from a reliable access point. At local Vascular Access Centers, interventional nephrologists perform outpatient procedures to improve access performance. The ideal hemodialysis access is an artery to vein shunt that delivers high blood flow, easy cannulation.
The Right Questions (FAQ)
- What is an angiogram?
An angiogram is an X-ray test that uses dye and a camera (fluoroscopy) to take pictures of the blood flow through your access and the adjacent blood vessels. The angiogram allows us to see if there are any blockages or narrowed vessels causing your access to not work properly.
- Am I going to be put to sleep for my test?
No. We give you medication to help you rest and relax during your procedure. The type of medication we give is called conscious sedation. These medicines are used if we perform an intervention.
- Can I eat before my procedure?
No. Everyone is kept NPO for 6 hours prior to their procedure. The scheduler will call you the day before your procedure so you will know what to do prior to your procedure.
- Why do I need to come one hour before my procedure?
The nurses need to complete paperwork prior to your procedure. They will also do a brief assessment and the doctor will also see you.
- Why should I come to TVAC?
We have a specialized team of doctors, nurses and staff to care for your dialysis access. Our staff is familiar with dialysis patients and their care. With 8 years of experience in dialysis access care, we are the first outpatient vascular access center in Tarrant County.
Insurance
Tarrant Vascular Access Center takes a wide range of insurances including government insurances, such as Medicare and Tricare, as well as a variety of commercial insurances such as, BCBS of Texas, Aetna and many others. Please feel free to contact us with any questions.