Dialysis Access Surgery

Get the Expert Care You Need for Successful Dialysis

Before you can have dialysis, you need dialysis access surgery. You can get the surgery — and expert care — through the Dialysis Access Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC). Our team determines which type of surgery is best for you. Then, they help you get ready. After surgery, we make sure you have the education and support you need to help your dialysis go well. You can rely on us for all your dialysis needs.

What is Dialysis?

When your kidneys are healthy, they clean your blood and make hormones that keep your bones strong and your blood healthy. When your kidneys fail, you need treatment to perform the work your kidneys used to do. Dialysis replaces kidney function by using special equipment to clean waste from your body.

At BIDMC, we offer both types of dialysis:

• Hemodialysis, which circulates blood through a kidney dialysis machine to complete the cleansing process.
• Peritoneal dialysis, which uses the lining of your abdomen as a filter to purify your blood.

Treatment involves using a special solution introduced into your abdominal cavity. Our services are available to you on an outpatient and inpatient basis.

Dialysis Access Center

At BIDMC, dialysis access procedures take place in our Dialysis Access Center. It’s part of the medical center’s Transplant Institute. Our expert surgeons and skilled team work to identify and create an access site that will offer you the best long-term results.

Dialysis access surgery creates a vascular opening. This allows doctors to connect hemodialysis equipment to your bloodstream or to place the catheter needed for peritoneal dialysis in your abdomen. There are several ways to establish dialysis access. Your nephrologist (kidney doctor) and surgeon work with you to decide which type of access is best for you.

In addition to providing initial access services, our surgeons can also provide immediate access site repair. This is important if you develop urgent problems such as blood clots, infection or a pseudoaneurysm (a bulge in a graft wall).

At the Center, we adhere to National Kidney Foundation standards. This means we’re committed to providing dialysis access management and care that’s based on the best medical evidence. Other benefits of having your surgery at BIDMC include:

• Access to a dedicated nurse coordinator.
• Close care coordination with referring providers.
• Timely care.

Your Dialysis Access Coordinator

Our nurse coordinators work with local and regional dialysis centers to facilitate:

• New patient referrals.
• A two-week or earlier timeframe to establish permanent vascular access.
• Same day or next-day service for access-related complications.  
• As needed, immediate access to other team members. This can be vital if you require surgical attention or follow-up care for dialysis access issues.

Your coordinator has special expertise in dialysis access surgery. They help guide you through the process. They're also here to answer any questions or concerns.

Reach Out With Questions

Contact the dialysis access nurse coordinator at 617-632-9817 Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. After hours, call 617-632-9700 and ask for the on-call transplant coordinator.