Value of clinical screening for detection of asymptomatic hemodialysis vascular access stenoses.

Measurement of recirculation and intradialytic venous line pressures may aid in the detection of hemodialysis vascular access stenoses. The authors screened 29 consecutive asymptomatic patients for recirculation values exceeding 15% or venous pressures greater than 150 mmHg. All 13 patients requiring and agreeing to angiography on the basis of the screening protocol proved to have high-grade stenoses of their vascular access outflow or inflow. Asymptomatic vascular access pathology is common. High-risk asymptomatic populations may be detected by simple screening procedures.