1.To understand the surgical and the vascular changes appearing in imaging of AV fistula 2. To optimally assess fistula maturation and identify the appropriate time for patient to start dialysis 3. To review common AV fistula complications, identify its insufficiency, where and what the problem is.

End stage renal disease is one of the most common death-causing diseases worldwide, its increasing prevalence has resulted in the necessity to focus on delivery of vascular access care for hemodialysis; a reliable vascular access for haemodialysis has become highly needed. Duplex Doppler ultrasound has a unique ability to evaluate both structural and functional aspects of the fistula and its draining vessels, making it the preferred non-invasive imaging modality for access planning and follow-up. CT study may also be used as a fast, noninvasive, and...

Pre-operative assessment: Preoperative duplex ultrasound is useful in identification of vessel anatomical location, patency and diameter. It helps in the prognostic assessment of the vessels in terms of their ability to dilate and remodeling. Several international guidelines on vascular access creation recommend using duplex ultrasonography to assess the possible AVF configurations pre-operatively. Knowledge of the vascular dimensions would benefit clinical decision making regarding the AVF configuration. From a haemodynamic point of view, the smaller the diameters of the vessel the higher the blood flow resistance...

End stage renal disease patients with arteriovenous fistulas number is increasing nowadays, and a radiologist should be aware of the imaging criteria of a mature functioning fistula and all the possible complications. Duplex ultrasound is a non-invasive method which helps in preoperative prediction of fistula maturation, and its role in early detect ion of access complications is much appreciated.

American College of Radiology, and American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine. "AIUM practice guideline for the performance of a vascular ultrasound examination for postoperative assessment of dialysis access."Journal of ultrasound in medicine: official journal of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine33, no. 7 (2014): 1321. Bashar, Khalid, Peter J. Conlon, Elrasheid AH Kheirelseid, Thomas Aherne, Stewart R. Walsh, and Austin Leahy. "Arteriovenous fistula in dialysis patients: factors implicated in early and late AVF maturation failure."The Surgeon14, no. 5 (2016): 294-300. Dageforde, Leigh Anne, Kelly...