Vascular Access Guidelines and Implementation Tools

These downloadable tools support clinical decision-making and are cross-referenced by guideline number and topic. They include algorithms and key points from the Vascular Access Guideline Implementation Team.

ESKD Life-Plan and Referral Tools

• ESKD Life-Plan
• ESKD Life-Plan Documentation Template
• ESKD Life-Plan Documentation Example
• Referral to Vascular Access Clinic

AV Access Creation, Monitoring, and Cannulation

• New AV Access Creation and Follow up: Best Practices for Surgeons
• Post-operative AV Access Monitoring and Management
• Cannulation: How to Cannulate and Manage Complications
• AV Access Cannulation Checklists

AV Access Lesions and Complications

• Detection and Management of Clinically Significant AV Access Lesion (Stenosis Thrombosis)
• Management of Clinically Significant AV Fistula Lesions
• Management of Clinically Significant AV Graft Lesions
• Diagnosis and Management of AV Access Infections
• AV Access Aneurysm and Pseudoaneurysm Management
• Management of Steal or AV Access-related Hand Ischemia

Central Venous Catheter Care and Complications

• Algorithm CVC Insertion Complications
• CVC Care to Prevent Infection
• CVC Complications: Monitoring and Detection of CVC Infection
• Diagnosis and Management of Catheter Related Bloodstream Infections
• CVC Complications: Monitoring and Detection of CVC Dysfunction
• CVC Dysfunction Conservative and Pharmacologic Management
• CVC Dysfunction Interventional Management

These downloadable checklists can help support vascular access care, patient education, catheter checks, and fistula or graft monitoring.

General Vascular Access Care

• How to Keep Your Vascular Access Healthy
• It Only Takes a Minute to Check Your Catheter
• It Only Takes a Minute to Check Your Catheter (Español)
• It Only Takes a Minute to Save Your Lifeline
• It Only Takes a Minute to Save Your Lifeline (Español)

New Fistula Daily Checks

• Ready, Set, Go: The Steps to Catheter Freedom: Weeks 1 to 2: New Fistula Daily Check
• Ready, Set, Go: The Steps to Catheter Freedom: Week 3: New Fistula Daily Check
• Ready, Set, Go: The Steps to Catheter Freedom: Weeks 4 to 5: New Fistula Daily Check
• Ready, Set, Go: The Steps to Catheter Freedom: Weeks 6 to 10: New Fistula Daily Check

New Graft Daily Checks

• Ready, Set, Go: The Steps to Catheter Freedom: Week 1: New Graft Daily Check
• Ready, Set, Go: The Steps to Catheter Freedom: Weeks 2 to 3: New Graft Daily Check
• Ready, Set, Go: The Steps to Catheter Freedom: Week 4: New Graft Daily Check

• CDC Vital Signs: Reducing inequities in preventing bloodstream infections in people on dialysis

Resources to help people on dialysis understand how vascular access works, how to care for it, and how to reduce infection risk.

Understanding Your Access

• Hemodialysis Access
• Hemodialysis Catheters: How To Keep Yours Working Well
• Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infection (CRBSI)

• CLINICAL PRACTICE GUIDELINES FOR HEMODIALYSIS ADEQUACY, UPDATE 2006
• Download: 2006 Updates Clinical Practice Guidelines and Recommendation for Hemodialysis Adequacy

Information contained in this NKF educational resource is based on data available at the time of publication. It is intended to help clinicians stay informed about new scientific findings and developments. This resource is not intended to establish a preferred standard of care and should not be interpreted as prescribing an exclusive course of management.