The goal of vascular access creation is to achieve a functioning arteriovenous fistula (AVF) or arteriovenous graft (AVG). An autologous fistula has been shown to be superior to AVG or to central venous catheters (CVCs) with lowest rate of re-intervention, but vessel obstruction or immaturity accounts for 20 % to 54% of cases with primary failure of AVF. This review is focused on the factors influencing maturation; indication and timing of preoperative mapping/creation of vascular access; ultrasound parameters for creation AVF/AVG; early postoperative complications following creation of a vascular access; ultrasound determinants of fistula maturation and endovascular intervention in vascular access with maturation failure. However, vascular accesses that fail to develop, have a high incidence of correctable abnormalities, and these need to be promptly recognized by ultrasonography and managed effectively if a high success rate is to be expected. We review approaches to promoting fistula maturation and duplex ultrasonography (DUS) of evaluating vascular access maturation.

• Keywords
• Hemodialysis, arteriovenous fistula, maturation, ultrasound, vascular access,
• MeSH
• Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical * adverse effects   MeSH
• Renal Dialysis MeSH
• Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Vascular Patency MeSH
• Retrospective Studies MeSH
• Ultrasonography MeSH
• Treatment Outcome MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Review MeSH

Chronic hemodialysis therapy required regular entry into the patient's blood stream with adequate flow. The use of arteriovenous fistulas and grafts is linked with lower morbidity and mortality than the use of catheters. However, these types of accesses are frequently affected by stenoses, which decrease the flow and lead to both inadequate dialysis and access thrombosis. The idea of duplex Doppler ultrasound surveillance is based on the presumption that in-time diagnosis of an asymptomatic significant stenosis and its treatment prolongs access patency. Details of performed trials are conflicting, and current guidelines do not support ultrasound surveillance. This review article summarizes the trials performed and focuses on the reasons of conflicting results. We stress the need of precise standardized criteria of significant access stenosis and the weakness of the metaanalyses performed.

• Keywords
• Hemodialysis, arteriovenous fistula, arteriovenous graft, hemodialysis vascular access, ultrasonography,
• MeSH
• Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical * adverse effects   MeSH
• Renal Dialysis MeSH
• Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Graft Occlusion, Vascular diagnostic imaging   etiology   therapy   MeSH
• Vascular Patency MeSH
• Ultrasonography MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Review MeSH