Unit of Vascular Access
The Vascular Access Unit is led by the Clinical Institute of Nephrology and Urology. The main objective of the Unit is to guarantee comprehensive and multidisciplinary coverage in the center's coverage area (400 potential and likely patients and 150 incidents in the hemodialysis program), as well as adequate planning the implementation of a new vascular access to outpatients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD), who choose hemodialysis as renal replacement therapy.
Since April 2014, and in line with an agreement with CATSalut, the Unit represents a support and reference area for vascular complications in patients on the hemodialysis program throughout Catalonia. The Vascular Unit is made up of different specialists in the fields of nephrology, interventional vascular radiology, vascular surgery and infectious diseases.
By way of summary, during 2020, 672 endovascular procedures and 240 surgical procedures were performed, and there were 450 visits.
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.