Lower Extremity Arteriovenous Hemodialysis Access: An Important Adjunct in Select Patients

Given the current survival rates of patients receiving hemodialysis, it has become increasingly common for patients to exhaust their upper extremity access options. Likewise, overzealous catheter use can lead to central venous occlusion or stenosis, further limiting the upper extremity access options. In these patients, use of the lower extremities for access is often required. Fortunately, there are a number of options available that have acceptable durability and utility. The purpose of this article is to review the various techniques available for placement of hemodialysis access in the lower extremity and discuss their results.