who do you like working on your fistula, your v surgeon or a radiologist

[sullidog]

Just curious who do you like working on your fistula better, your v surgeon or your radiologist? For me it's my surgeon, I think your surgeon does a better job keeping it unblocked by tackling why it got clotted in the first place, It's been my experience with radiologists, they just declot the fistula and sew it back up and do not take their time.

[boswife]

interesting.... im wondering others experience as well as im sure there will be a time when hubby has to see one or another. 

[Rerun]

Vascular Surgeon only. 

[jazzin11]

Vascular Surgeon only.

I am in complete agreement!

[YLGuy]

My original fistula did not work and they placed the 2nd one within a week of my kidney failure.  It has been about 2 1/2 years without any problems so I have not had to see either.  How long after your fistula was placed did you get your first clot and how often does it occur?

[Gandalf]

The trend here is for fistula contruction and repair to be done by a vascular surgeons only.

[lmunchkin]

Ive never heard of Radiologists doing surgeries on Vascular system!  That is news to me!  Vascular absolutely!

lmunchkin

[sullidog]

No radiologists do not do surgeries but they do fistulagrams and my oppinion they suck at it. If they find a clot they inject drugs and there's a thrill, it works that's all they will do.
I think that's why I left and went to a new surgeon, he kept referring me to the radiologists for revisions

[lmunchkin]

Sorry, Sulli, I guess I misunderstood!  I know the radiologist does do the fistula grams and I believe did the maping for a fistula.  When hubby had a perm cath in the neck, I think Radiologist took it out but V. Surgeon put it in, I think!  Lord, that seems like eternity!

lmunchkin     

[cookie2008]

My V Surgeon is the best, first time I went to a radiologist he replaced my permacath, and it was the last time I went to him he was rude and a 

[pagandialysis]

At the local University Hospital they have a Access Center that deals only with accesses of any kind. I trust the doctors there with my fistula and catheter. My surgeon does nothing but $#@% up everything he touches. He always leave me worse then when he found me....or at least he use to. He isn't allowed to come near me anymore.

[sullidog]

I've always had luck with radiologists doing permacaths, but not fistulagrams. Unfortunetly I don't think there's an access clinic around here like some places have.

[jazzin11]

My fistula had a little bit of a low flow problem for the first month, and the Vascular Surgeon found a new branch line had formed just upstream causing a back flow problem. He then did a quick procedure to tie it off.  That worked well for about a year then the same symptoms started again. This time he went in and revised the graft he had previously had done and moved it upstream to where the branch line had reformed again. Never a problem after that.  Thank goodness the surgeries are fairly painless and quick!  The Radiologist had done more mapping prior to the third procedure, and the Vascular Surgeon did the work.