I was, however, not prepared for what was coming next. It was much later before I understood the treatment options and choices available to me. I was of course entering into a very different world of the dialysis patient. In this world of dialysis, even though I am a dentist, and understand medical terms, I was appalled to find that dialysis patients have no rights of self-determination. Never before had I been in the position where treatment options were not even offered, much less explained.
Vascular access is the key to proper dialysis.
Without the proper working access you cannot dialyize a patient. I was referred to a vascular surgeon. There was no preceding exam or discussion of treatment. I was just set up for surgery. A vortex graft was put in instead of a A-V fistule.