Doctors at Sarasota Memorial Hospital are the first in southwest Florida to offer a new, minimally invasive procedure to help those in our community in need of hemodialysis. The Ellipsys System offers a minimally invasive way to create the vascular access needed for dialysis, replacing a more complex surgery and helping patients with kidney failure to begin their needed dialysis treatment sooner with fewer risks for complications. With just a few needle pokes, the Ellipsys System has now helped two patients at Sarasota Memorial get ready for their necessary dialysis treatments.

“This is really no different than placing a really big IV,” says Dr. Wagner. “We don’t have to destroy any anatomy to create a good fistula and the vein should not have any scarring on it.” No scarring means the fistula can be accessed again and again for dialysis treatment, without risk of the blood vessels collapsing. The procedure takes about 30 minutes or less, requires no general anesthesia, and results in less trauma, pain and infection risk than the surgical approach.