The Clinical Utility of Doppler Ultrasound Prior to Arteriovenous Fistula Creation

Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is the preferred access for long-term hemodialysis, with superior long-term patency rates; however, early failure rates are significant. Recent evidence has brought into question the preferred site of AVF creation in many patient groups. A preoperative test that could reliably predict the outcome of a proposed AVF would be of great benefit. Doppler ultrasound has been the most extensively studied and widely used test …