What is it?
If your kidneys fail, unless and until you have a successful kidney transplant, you will need dialysis therapy to clean and filter your blood. The first step is establishing dialysis access one of four ways:
• A tunneled catheter in your neck—temporary, because the possibility of infection is high.
• An AV fistula—taking a piece of a vein from your arm or leg and sewing it into a nearby artery, and allowing the sewn-in vein to enlarge and become thicker, like an artery. Considered the best option because it has the lowest risk of infection.
• An AV graft—the sewing of a prosthetic graft between an artery and vein in your arm or leg. The preferred option if your veins are too small for an AV fistula. AV grafts tend to close more quickly and are more prone to infection because they are not formed from natural tissue.
• Peritoneal dialysis—placement of a small tube, called a cannula, in your abdomen to allow the use of the lining of the abdomen (peritoneum) to filter your blood. It requires several “exchanges” every day: you introduce and remove fluid through the tube. A convenient option because you perform the dialysis therapy at home, but infections sometimes occur and the tube can become clogged.
Risks
BLEEDING is the most common complication. Generally, this is noticed and taken care of before you go home.
CONTACT YOUR DIALYSIS ACCESS SURGEON IMMEDIATELY IF…
• You notice swelling or a saturated dressing.
• Your hand or leg becomes very cold or numb as this may indicate a serious problem (“steal syndrome”) that may need urgent attention.
SLIGHT COOLNESS in the affected hand or leg is common. This happens because some of the blood that was supplying the hand or leg is being redirected. Squeezing an old tennis ball or racquetball in your hand can help your body re-adjust.
VIBRATION CHANGES OR PULSATION when you place your hand over the fistula or graft, you should feel a vibration. If the vibration stops or becomes a pulsation, contact your dialysis access surgeon as the change may indicate that the access has narrowed.
How to prepare
• You will be asked to avoid having blood drawn from veins in the selected arm or leg. This is sometimes referred to as “preserving the veins.”
• Fast (no food or drink) for 8 hours prior to the procedure, unless your operating team directs otherwise.
• At the hospital, you may be asked to wear a “no IV access” band on the unaffected arm or leg.
What Can I Expect After Treatment?
• The vein will enlarge and it should be easy to feel a vibration.
• Avoid sleeping on the affected arm or leg
• Avoid constrictive clothing over the site.
• Most surgeons recommend a healing period before your first dialysis treatment.
* 2-3 months for a fistula.
* At least 4 weeks for a graft.
• Once you begin dialysis, inspect the access site regularly for bleeding or signs of infection, such as redness or warmth.
The information contained on www.ntxvascular.com is sourced from the Society for Vascular Surgery at www.vascular.org. It is purely informational, and is not intended, nor should it be relied upon, as a substitute for the advice or treatment of a trained medical professional. Individuals with specific medical problems or questions must consult with their doctor or other health care professional.