Vascular access for chronic haemodialysis in Lombardy.

To evaluate the organisation of vascular access surgery, the techniques used to monitor surgical access and the central catheters, a survey was conducted amongst dialysis Units of Lombardy. A questionnaire was sent out to the 43 dialysis centres in Lombardy, 96% of which replied. In almost 90% of dialysis units nephrologists perform vascular access albeit in close cooperation with vascular surgeons for the more complex cases.