The vascular access is the Achilles' heel of hemodialysis. This thesis focuses on the maturation and long-term outcomes of arteriovenous fistulas and compares them to arteriovenous grafts. Also the... Show moreThe vascular access is the Achilles' heel of hemodialysis. This thesis focuses on the maturation and long-term outcomes of arteriovenous fistulas and compares them to arteriovenous grafts. Also the results from the LIPMAT-study are presented, a randomized controlled trial in which improvement of arteriovenous fistula maturation using liposomal prednisolone was evaluated. Finally, cardiac effects of arteriovenous fistulas are explored. Show less