I Hate Dialysis Message Board
Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: General Discussion => Topic started by: Simon Dog on November 10, 2015, 12:58:29 PM
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Is it typical for transplant surgeons to do fistula work? I had my work done by a vascular surgeon at a community hospital that does not do transplants, but I have recently learned that both of the transplant surgeons at the center I am listed at do the fisutula surgeries. Is this typical? I was thinking they might need the work because of a shortage of organs.
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My mother's cardiologist was also a heart transplant specialist and he also performed studies and taught at a med school. I would think specialists would have a lot of experience under their belt and able to perform a variety of procedures and keep themselves updated. My husband's neph can perform vascular access surgery but she sends him to another surgeon whenever he needs plumbing. In a way, when I think of how some fistula's are created, it is sort of like a transplant in the way of moving and reconnecting arteries and veins. Hope someone who can really answer your question comes along.
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My fistula was done by a vascular surgeon. Amazingly he knows very little about dialysis.
And I was at Intervention radiology several times for "plumbing work" and in most cases the nurses and staff where amazed we did hemo dialysis at home.
Because of an access problem I went to an emergency room once in Vermont to have labs taken. I had them tell me there they had never heard of home hemo.
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I got the impression the xplant surgeons do fistula work, but they would send me to interventional radiology if I needed a f-gram. The original vascular surgeon did his own f-grams. My guess is that the vascular surgeons at my xplant center don't get much business on fistulas if the xplant surgeons are getting the work.
The vascular cutter I used was great, but he had some "interesting" opinions. "Buttonholes bad, sharps, good" and "Home dialysis bad idea, better off with the professionals".
I share your experiences regarding awareness of home hemo. I usually get looked at like a three eyed fish when I mention that to other docs or ER people, and they get this puzzled look when I tell them "I'm on the do it yourself plan" when they ask who punctures me. I also met an MD who was completely unaware of the immunization issues regarding transfusions and transplants.