Background: Vascular access is the lifeline for end-stage renal disease patients needing hemodialysis treatment. For dialysis treatment two needles are placed into the vascular access. Few studies on needle hemodynamics have been published.
Methods: We investigated needle hemodynamics by means of Doppler ultrasonography, both in B-mode and in pulsed Doppler mode.
Results: Direct visualization of the needles, turbulence around the arterial needle and blood flow jet from the venous needle are presented.
Conclusions: Ultrasound investigation of the hemodynamics of the dialysis needles is feasible. The extreme blood flow jet through the arterial needle was directed in all patients to the anterior vessel wall.