Do you typically obtain and review vein mapping studies prior to referral to vascular surgery for your patients with advanced CKD who are nearing the need for hemodialysis initiation?

The short answer is yes.

AVFs are generally considered to last longer and have fewer complications than AV grafts or tunneled HD catheters. However, non-maturation of AVF has been, and remains, a problem. To help improve blood vessel selection for viable AVF creation, US has become the gold standard....

Per KDOQI guidelines, vein mapping should be done selectively and not for everyone. Vein mapping can be done by Ultrasound or by venography. In our practice, venography is required, as most patients start HD with a TDC. Evaluation of the central venous system requires venography. As interventionalis...

The answer to this is ultimately dependent on what the vascular surgeon wants. At my institution, they want us to order vein mapping ahead of time - it's actually a hard stop on the referral if the vein mapping hasn't been ordered at or before the time of referral. My approach is to order the vein m...