The Maine Medical Center Vascular Access Center (VAC) is conveniently-located on our Brighton Campus at 335 Brighton Avenue, Portland, ME 04102. We offer a wide range of vascular access services to dialysis patients. The VAC is easy to navigate and ample parking is available - allowing patients to get in and out efficiently.

• Block time is available:
  • Tuesdays 7:30 am - 4:30 pm
  • Wednesdays 7:30 am – 12:00 pm
  • Fridays 7:30 am - 4:30 pm
• To make an appointment, please call 207-662-2665 - Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm 
• If needed, our direct phone number is 207-662-8388.

After Your Dialysis Catheter Insertion 

You may have received intravenous medicine that causes weakness and sleepiness. Rest and limit your activity for 24 hours. Have someone to help you at home. Do not drive, use machinery, or make any important decisions for 24 hours after taking pain medication.

• You may resume your previous diet and medications.
• Apply ice to site 20 minutes per hour while awake.
• Do not lie flat. Sleep with your head up on two pillows for 24 hours.
• You may restart Coumadin if directed by your provider.
• You may take 1-2 acetaminophen tablets every 4-6 hours for discomfort.
• Make sure the catheter caps are in place and the clamps are closed.
• Try not to get the catheter dressing wet. It needs to be kept as dry as possible.
• Do not remove the dressing. If the catheter gets wet, call the VAC. No showers or baths until cleared by the dialysis unit.
• Wear clothing to dialysis that allows the staff to easily change the catheter dressing. A shirt or blouse that buttons in the front is best.
• Call the VAC if you experience: bleeding or drainage from the catheter site, pain or swelling around the site, fever or chills.
• Do NOT let anyone but the dialysis staff use the catheter.

Emergency Situations: If bleeding occurs from the ends of your catheter, check the clamps--if they are open, close them. If the bleeding continues, pinch the tubing to stop the bleeding and call 911. If your catheter comes out, IMMEDIATELY apply pressure with a gauze or clean towel. Sit down, limit movement, and call for help.

After Your Fistulagram

You may have received intravenous medicine that causes weakness and sleepiness. Rest and limit your activity for 24 hours. Have someone to help you at home. Do not drive, use machinery, or make any important decisions for 24 hours or while taking pain medication.

• You may resume your previous diet, medications and activity.
• Your provider will tell you when to return to have your sutures removed.
• If bleeding from your fistula should occur, apply pressure to the site and hold until the bleeding stops.
• If bleeding does not stop after 15 minutes, continue to apply pressure and call the VAC.
• You may restart Coumadin if directed by your provider.
• Call the VAC if you have fever, chills, pain, or redness over the fistula, or if your fingers or hand become cold, painful, or blue.
• You may take 1-2 acetaminophen tablets every 4-6 hours for discomfort.
• Do NOT wear anything tight around the fistula arm, this includes clothing and jewelry.
• Do NOT hang purses or shopping bags from the fistula arm.
• Do NOT allow anyone to take your blood pressure on the fistula arm.
• Do NOT allow anyone except dialysis personnel to stick needles of any kind in the fistula arm.
• Feel for the thrill every day. The thrill is the vibration you feel over the fistula that means the blood is flowing through it. If you cannot feel the thrill, call the VAC or the dialysis unit.