Vascular Access Center Programs

Planning for appropriate vascular access care is extremely important in managing patients on dialysis. At TVAC, our experienced staff members provide caring and compassionate service to patients requiring vascular access care. Appropriate and periodic evaluation of dialysis vascular access can reduce the likelihood of losing a functional access.

We ardently follow KDOQI guidelines in the creation and maintenance of dialysis vascular access. Our access team includes nurses with several years of dialysis experience, enabling them to understand the needs and demands in a dialysis patient. Most of our staff are fluent in Spanish, narrowing the communication barrier that could exist in some practices. See all of our programs below.

Dialysis Access Program

Planning for appropriate vascular access care is extremely important in managing patients on dialysis. At Angiocare, our experienced staff members provide caring and compassionate service to patients requiring vascular access care. Appropriate and periodic evaluation of dialysis vascular access can reduce the likelihood of losing a functional access.

We ardently follow KDOQI guidelines in the creation and maintenance of dialysis vascular access. Our access team includes nurses with several years of dialysis experience, enabling them to understand the needs and demands in a dialysis patient. Most of our staff are fluent in Spanish, narrowing the communication barrier that could exist in some practices. Our facility utilizes advanced diagnostic and interventional devices to provide the state of the art dialysis access care. In addition to dialysis access care, we also offer other vascular services including long-term catheter placement for infusion of chemotherapy and antibiotics. We also perform invasive and noninvasive testing to diagnose and treat uncontrolled hypertension.

We also provide didactic training to the fellows-in-training on the core concepts in interventional nephrology.

Vein Program

Varicose veins are caused by venous insufficiency as a result of valve reflux (incompetence). The venous insufficiency results in dilated, tortuous, superficial vessels that protrude from the skin of the lower extremities. Spider veins are dilated capillary veins that are most often treated for cosmetic purposes.

The initial management consists of optimal medical therapy:

  • Weight loss education
  • Avoidance of prolonged standing
  • Smoking cessation education
  • Use of graded compression stockings
  • Daily exercise plan
  • Periodic leg elevation over 3 months

Several patients would need interventional therapy since conventional conservative management alone does not improve the agonizing symptoms of varicose veins. We use radiofrequency ablation of varicose veins which is a minimally invasive alternative to vein ligation and stripping. Endovenous radiofrequency ablation is FDA-approved for treatment of the greater saphenous vein, perforators and tributary veins.

PAD Program (peripheral artery disease)

There is an increased prevalence of peripheral arterial disease in patients with kidney disease. Due to the unique pathophysiology of medial arterial calcification, kidney disease patients are one of the most challenging subgroup who require meticulous attention while evaluating for peripheral arterial disease.

Development of circulatory blockages threatens the viability of a person's limbs or extremities. Through the expertise of vascular specialists, including interventional radiologists and nephrologists, Tarrant Vascular program offers patients a comprehensive program to evaluate and manage peripheral arterial disease.

At Tarrant Vascular, we ardently follow the ACC/AHA/SIR guidelines for the prevention, diagnosis and management of peripheral arterial disease. We emphasize on smoking cessation, exercise therapy and optimal medical management in addition to offering state of the art endovascular interventions for occluded arteries in the lower extremities.

Vascular Access for Chemo Infusion

We perform port placement and long term tunnel catheter for chemotherapy and intravenous antibiotic administration.

Research

We continually strive to lead the interventional nephrology community with research and development over a variety of concepts and procedures. For questions on participating in clinical research with Tarrant Vascular Center, please contact [email protected].

Dialysis Access Training

With over 5000 procedures performed by the on-staff physicians, Tarrant Vascular offer Dialysis Access Training for certain qualified physicians wanting to expand and gain privileged access and training. For questions, please contact [email protected].

PD PROGRAM (PERITONEAL DIALYSIS)

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a form of home dialysis which provides patients the flexibility and comfort of home while providing similar advantages of hemodialysis. There is rising prevalence of peritoneal dialysis among patients with kidney disease as it offers better lifestyle choices. An essential step to starting peritoneal dialysis is to get a PD catheter placed in the abdomen. Once placed the catheter is used to perform the peritoneal dialysis at home. Through the expertise of vascular specialists, including interventional nephrologists, Tarrant Vascular program offers patients a comprehensive program to evaluate and manage PD catheters. At Tarrant Vascular, we ardently follow the KDIGO guidelines for the prevention, diagnosis and management of patients with CKD. The surgical technique, although good, needs a recovery time of about 2 weeks. The physicians at Tarrant Vascular offer a percutaneous technique where patients can go home the same day after the surgery and resume using the new peritoneal catheter in 24-48 hours in most cases. Not only is it equally safe, it is also effective and less expensive than the surgical technique of PD catheter placement. [email protected].

Vericose Vein Treatment

More than 20% of the general population suffers from varicose veins or CVI. Varicose veins are enlarged veins that can be blue, red or flesh colored. They are often raised above the skin on legs and look like twisted bulging cords. Tarrant Vascular physicians provide comprehensive evaluation and management options including Minimally Invasive and Endovenous Ablation Treatments For questions, please contact [email protected].

PD Catheters

Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) is a form of home dialysis modality that offers a great life style benefit to patients. Tarrant Vascular offers state of the art care to patients needing help with Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) catheters. Starting from placements of new catheters to revisions/repairs or removal of catheters, you are covered. The catheters are placed under conscious sedation and using minimally invasive technique so that most patients can start using the catheters within 24-48 hours unlike surgical option where the wait is 2 weeks.[email protected].

Venaseal

The VenaSeal™ closure system is the only non-tumescent, non-thermal, non-sclerosant procedure that uses a proprietary medical adhesive delivered endovenously to close the vein. This unique approach eliminates the risk of nerve injury when treating the small saphenous vein, which is a risk sometimes associated with certain thermal-based procedures.1,2 Clinical studies have demonstrated that the procedure is safe and effective.1-4 The procedure is administered without the use of tumescent anesthesia, avoiding patient discomfort associated with multiple needle sticks.

For Patients

Tarrant Vascular Access Center - Fort Worth

500 Lipscomb Street
Fort Worth, Texas 76104
Phone: 1.817.870.26161.817.870.2616
Fax: 1.817.870.2628

Tarrant Vascular Access Center - Arlington

203A West Randol Mill Road
Arlington, Texas 76011
Phone: 1.817.872.03811.817.872.0381
Fax: 1.817.872.0382