Loveland, CO, July 21, 2020— In June 2018, the FDA approved two devices – Ellipsys and WavelinQ – for the percutaneous creation of an arteriovenous anastomosis to create a dialysis fistula.
Banner McKee Medical Center is the first hospital in Colorado to offer the WavelinQ procedure to patients. The FDA approved devices for the percutaneous creation of an arteriovenous anastomosis to create a dialysis fistula provides a groundbreaking, no incision, minimally invasive option for patients with kidney failure.
The WavelinQ EndoAVF procedure, performed as an outpatient procedure under conscious sedation, takes approximately an hour. The FDA and European trials showed high technical success rates for fistula creation and fistula utilization. The average time from creation to the time of being able to be used is about 50 days, much shorter than traditional surgically created fistulas.
Additionally, the functional patency of the percutaneous fistula was higher compared to surgical fistulas, required less interventions to keep them functional, and did not result in the typical cosmetic deformities that can occur with surgically created fistulas (like venous pseudoaneurysms). “Banner Mckee Medical Center is the first hospital in Colorado to offer this procedure to patients who are nearing end stage renal disease,” states Dr. Richard Coursey, Jr., Vascular/Interventional Radiologist. Dr. Coursey goes on to say, “This new procedure requires no incision, no general anesthesia, and is performed in about an hour as an outpatient.
We know it is hard for patients to come to terms with the fact that they are going to need to go on dialysis. The WavelinQ procedure allows me the ability to help patients transition to dialysis care more quickly, with less patient stress, and hopefully will also decrease the amount of days patients will require catheter based dialysis.”
To find out more about this exciting new procedure, or to be scheduled for a clinic consultation, please contact Dr. Coursey’s Office at 303-930-2849.