Patient: AV Graft Disease: Frequently Asked Questions

 

 

What is End-stage Renal Disease?

In End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) the kidneys are unable to perform their essential functions:  excrete urine and help regulate the water, electrolyte and acid-based content of the blood.  Patients with ESRD require hemodialysis from an external source.

What is an arteriovenous fistula?

A channel created using the patient's own tissue to connect an artery and vein.  This fistula allows for Easy artery-vein access when a patient receives hemodialysis treatment.

What is an arteriovenous graft?

A synthetic material used to create a channel from an artery to a vein.  This graft allows for easy artery-vein access when a patient receives hemodialysis.  The graft is used when a fistula cannot be created, the most common graft is the polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) graft.

What is Vascular Brachytherapy (VBT)?

In vascular brachytherapy a small dose of radiation is delivered within the narrowed area of the vessel and then removed.  Radiation is used to decrease the risk of the tissue regrowth within the vessel in order to maintain an open passageway for a long period of time.

What is the peripheral VBT system?

The peripheral VBT system is a clinical vascular brachytherapy device designed to deliver beta radiation using low penetrating Strontium 90 to the wall of the artery following balloon angioplasty.

What is the BRAVO Trial?

The BRAVO Trial is clinical trial developed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the newly designed peripheral VBT system in the treatment of tissue overgrowth within a hemodialysis graft.

What will the VBT treatment feel like?

As with any procedure involving placement of a catheter, the patient may feel some discomfort at the site of catheter placement.  This discomfort is temporary and is relieved when the catheter is removed.  There should be no additional sensation during the treatment with vascular brachytherapy.

How is the treatment performed?

You will be taken to the laboratory where the procedure to re-open the narrowed area within the graft is performed.  The balloon angioplasty procedure will be performed to maximize the treatment of the beta radiation.  The beta radiation sources are then delivered through a catheter to the treatment site where they will remain in place for a prescribed length of time, typically 3 to 4 minutes.  The beta radiation sources are removed after each treatment, no radiation remains in the body.

 

 

 

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