Fistuloplasty and AV Fistula Repair in Hyderabad Protect your lifeline.
Keep dialysis going.
Balloon repair of narrowed or clotted dialysis fistulas through a needle puncture.
Often day-care, usually without surgery.
Early treatment of a failing fistula gives the best chance of saving it.
Balloon repair of narrowed or clotted dialysis fistulas and central veins through a needle puncture, often as day-care and without surgery.
About Fistuloplasty
An arteriovenous (AV) fistula is a dialysis patient's lifeline, and when it narrows or clots, dialysis becomes harder and the access can be lost. Fistuloplasty is balloon angioplasty of the narrowed fistula, performed by an Interventional Radiologist. At Clinic Seven in Hyderabad, a small needle puncture is made in the fistula itself, contrast dye shows the narrowing on X-ray, and a balloon is inflated across it to restore flow. Clotted fistulas can often be cleared through the same kind of puncture, and narrowings in the large central veins of the chest, a common cause of arm or face swelling after earlier catheters or pacemaker leads, are treated with venoplasty and, when needed, a stent.
In a randomised trial of 330 patients, a drug-coated balloon kept the narrowed fistula open at 6 months in 82. 2% against 59. 5% with a standard balloon. Treatment is planned with your nephrologist and dialysis unit, and prompt referral when flows fall or needling becomes difficult gives the best chance of saving the access.
- Widens narrowed fistulas and grafts through a needle puncture, with no surgery.
- Clotted fistulas can often be cleared quickly, and early treatment gives the best chance of saving the access.
- Treats central vein stenosis, the common cause of a swollen arm, face or neck in dialysis patients.
- Drug-coated balloon kept the fistula narrowing open in 82.2% against 59.5% at 6 months in a randomised trial.
Personalized scenarios are presented during consultation. Individual results may vary.
Symptoms of Dialysis AV Fistula Problems
A fistula that is starting to fail often gives warning signs. Tell your dialysis team and the clinic early if you notice:
- Prolonged bleeding after the dialysis needles are removed
- A weaker thrill, or none at all, in the fistula
- High pressures or poor flow during dialysis
- Swelling of the fistula arm or hand
- Swelling of the face or neck, or visible veins on the chest wall
- Difficulty or repeated failure when needling the fistula
- A fistula that has clotted or stopped working
If these symptoms sound familiar, book an evaluation with Dr. Nagateja Bonala at Clinic Seven, Hyderabad.
- •Fistulas with long or repeatedly returning narrowings, where surgical revision may be better
- •Large aneurysmal segments or infected fistulas
- •Very old, long-clotted fistulas
- •Active infection of the access site until treated
How the Fistuloplasty procedure works
Every step is planned and performed under image guidance by an Interventional Radiologist at Clinic Seven, Hyderabad.
- 01
Assessment
Doppler ultrasound and a fistulogram (contrast X-ray) show the narrowing or clot and the draining veins.
- 02
Access
A small needle or sheath enters the fistula, usually where the dialysis needles go, under local anaesthetic.
- 03
Fistuloplasty
A balloon is inflated across the narrowing, and a drug-coated balloon, stent or stent graft is used in selected cases.
- 04
Check and go home
A repeat dye check confirms the result, and you go home with advice on your next dialysis session.
Fistuloplasty vs surgical revision or a new access
| Factor | Fistuloplasty | Surgical revision / New access |
|---|---|---|
| Access | A needle puncture in the fistula | An operation under anaesthesia, or a new fistula in the other arm |
| Anaesthesia | Local anaesthesia | Local, regional or general anaesthesia |
| Time to use | Often the next dialysis session | A new fistula can take weeks to months to mature |
| Dialysis catheter | Often avoided | A temporary catheter may be needed meanwhile |
| Repeatable | Yes, if the narrowing returns | Limited by available veins |
| Best for | Narrowings and clots in a fistula that is otherwise usable | Long or repeated narrowings, large aneurysms or an unusable fistula |
The right choice depends on your scans, symptoms and goals. Your Interventional Radiologist will talk you through both options at your consultation.
Recovery timeline
Most patients treated at Clinic Seven follow a predictable recovery path with a follow-up review scheduled at the first visit.
- Short observation, then home the same day in most cases.
- Dialysis often continues on the usual schedule, as advised by your team.
- Regular follow-up scans, because narrowings can return.
Risks and safety
Every procedure carries some risk. These are the ones your Interventional Radiologist will review before Fistuloplasty.
- Bruising or bleeding at the puncture site.
- Rarely a tear of the vein, usually controlled with the balloon or a stent.
- Reaction to contrast dye, or the fistula clotting again.
What affects the cost
The cost of fistuloplasty in Hyderabad depends on whether a simple balloon, a drug-coated balloon or a stent is used, whether a clot has to be removed, and the facility. Insurance and corporate cover for dialysis access care varies by policy and is checked before the procedure. The exact cost is explained after consultation and review of your fistula study.
For a personalised estimate and insurance guidance, contact Clinic Seven with your recent reports.
- Standard balloon, drug-coated balloon or stent
- Whether a clot must be removed
- Fistulogram and any central vein treatment
- Day-care facility and room category
- Insurance, cashless approval and TPA processing
Get a rough idea of the cost
Choose what matters to you and we will show a guide. Nobody is committed to anything, and our team will never rush you.
Cost details
Amounts are for a shared room and are a starting point. The final cost is confirmed after consultation and review of your scans, and insurance may reduce what you pay.
| Treatment | Procedure | Cost, shared room (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Dialysis Access Care: Fistuloplasty and AV Fistula Repair | Standard procedureAdded only if needed: Clot removal (thrombectomy) ₹1,25,000; Central vein angioplasty ₹90,000; Central vein stenting ₹2,50,000 | ₹95,000 |
Room choice changes the amount: Shared room is the base amount; Single private room adds 15%; Deluxe single room adds 30%; Suite adds 50%.
Is your insurance accepted?
Cashless with major insurers, TPAs and office group policies. CGHS and Singareni on credit.
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Cover is confirmed by our team after checking your policy and treatment plan.
View all insurersDr. Nagateja Bonala
Dr. Nagateja Bonala is the Interventional Radiologist at Clinic Seven, Hyderabad, with 13+ years of image-guided practice. Every Fistuloplasty case is planned personally with a review of your scans and reports.
Plan your next step
Bring your recent scans, blood tests and any prior specialist notes. Message us on the contact page for directions, timings and insurance guidance.
Questions about Fistuloplasty
Fistuloplasty is balloon angioplasty of a narrowed dialysis AV fistula. A balloon on a thin catheter is inflated across the narrowing through a needle puncture, to restore blood flow, without surgery.
Prolonged bleeding after the needles come out, a weaker or absent thrill, high pressures or poor flow on dialysis, swelling of the arm, repeated clotting, or a fistula that has stopped working. Tell your dialysis team and the clinic early.
Often, yes. A clot can frequently be removed through a puncture, followed by balloon treatment of the underlying narrowing. The sooner it is done, the better the chance, so call your dialysis unit and the clinic immediately.
In the IN.PACT AV Access randomised trial of 330 patients, a drug-coated balloon kept the target narrowing open at 6 months in 82.2% against 59.5% with a standard balloon, with similar early safety. Your doctor chooses the device from your scan and history.
It can be a narrowing in the large central veins of the chest or shoulder, common after dialysis catheters, PICC lines or pacemaker leads. A venogram confirms it, and balloon venoplasty, sometimes with a stent, is the usual treatment.
It can. Narrowings in fistulas and central veins often return, so repeat treatment is common, and follow-up scans help catch it early.
Usually not. Treatment is often day-care and dialysis frequently continues on the usual schedule, as advised by your nephrologist and the dialysis team.
Yes. Clinic Seven, Hyderabad offers consultation for fistuloplasty and central vein treatment with Dr. Nagateja Bonala, planned together with your nephrologist and dialysis unit.
Related treatments at Clinic Seven
Minimally invasive, image-guided options by Dr. Nagateja Bonala in Hyderabad.
