Dialysis patients have their blood filtered by a machine as their kidneys no longer work. To get blood in and out of these patients it is possible to perform a surgical procedure to increase to size and durability of a vein in the arm to allow repeated needle insertion. This enlarged vein is called a fistula. There is some evidence that ultrasound scanning the blood vessels in the arm before surgery can improve the chances of a successful procedure. The investigators aim to test whether scanning all patients is better than scanning only those who are difficult to assess by physical examination alone.
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AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Primary failure of access (immediate/early thrombosis or failure to mature).
Timeframe: 30 days