How do dialysis fistulas work

As the vein stretches, it enlarges. The result is a long-lasting access point that allows the dialysis nurse to easily connect the patient to the dialysis machine. However, there are several alternatives worth considering. If you do not have a vein of sufficient size for an AV fistula, an artificial vein may be installed via AV bypass graft surgery. If immediate dialysis is required, a dialysis catheter can be inserted in a vein until a longer-term solution is created.

Our vascular surgeons are internationally recognized for their development of new techniques for dialysis access. They work closely with the nephrologists, who diagnose and treat kidney disease, and interventional radiologists, who provide minimally invasive image-guided diagnosis and treatment of disease.

The result is a course of treatment that fits the needs of each patient. Skip to Main Content. Print Share Download. What is an AV fistula? How is an AV fistula used during dialysis?

Before you are sent home, you will be given specific instructions on how to care for your access. The interventional specialists and vascular surgeons at Azura are highly skilled in dialysis access creation and management. We can perform the AV fistula creation in our centers and help you manage your fistula when needed while you are on dialysis.

At Azura Vascular Care, we work every day to deliver far more than our patients expect by bringing our full range of medical capabilities and service excellence to every patient, every visit at each of our centers nationwide. If you would like to learn more about a specific medical condition leading to dialysis, or about dialysis itself, Fresenius Kidney Care is a complete resource for CKD. If you are ready to consult with one of our specialists, find a center near you or search for one of our physicians.

Search for a center or physician in your area and request an appointment online. What is an AV fistula? Advantages of an AV fistula Remains functional longer than other forms of vascular access No synthetic material implanted in your body Provides the necessary blood flow needed for effective dialysis, which may help to decrease treatment time Low risk of infection Less prone to clotting than other dialysis access options Created in an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia Fast return to your daily activities How is an AV fistula created?

Recovering from AV fistula creation AV fistula creation can be done as an outpatient procedure and does not require an overnight hospitalization. How we can help you The interventional specialists and vascular surgeons at Azura are highly skilled in dialysis access creation and management. Wash the area around your access with soap and warm water every day.

Check the area for signs of infection, such as warmth or redness. When blood is flowing through your access and your access is working well, you can feel a vibration over the area. Your energy level may increase and you may have a better appetite. Hemodialysis reduces salt and fluid buildup, so you should have less shortness of breath and swelling as well.

This video explains how most people with kidney failure feel better after starting dialysis. When hemodialysis treatments are working and you keep to your ideal dry weight, your blood pressure should be well controlled.

In addition, blood tests can show how well your hemodialysis treatments are working. Read more about hemodialysis dose and adequacy. You could have a problem with your vascular access, which is the most common reason someone on hemodialysis needs to go to the hospital. Any type of vascular access may. These problems can keep your treatments from working. You may need to have more procedures to replace or repair your access for it to work properly.

Your doctor can change your dialysis solution to help avoid these problems. The longer and more frequent treatments of home hemodialysis are less likely to cause muscle cramps or rapid changes in blood pressure than standard in-center dialysis. You can lose blood if a needle comes out of your access or a tube comes out of the dialyzer. To prevent blood loss, dialysis machines have a blood leak detector that sets off an alarm.

If this problem occurs at the clinic, a nurse or technician will be on hand to act. You may need a few months to adjust to hemodialysis. Always report problems to your health care team, who often can treat side effects quickly and easily. You can avoid many side effects by following an eating plan you develop with your dietitian, limiting liquid intake, and taking your medicines as directed.

The dialysis social worker may be able to help you develop an end-of-life care plan before you stop dialysis. The NIDDK translates and disseminates research findings to increase knowledge and understanding about health and disease among patients, health professionals, and the public. Kidney Failure What is Kidney Failure? Where can I have hemodialysis? How do I prepare for hemodialysis? What changes will I have to make when I start hemodialysis? How will I know if my hemodialysis is working?

What are possible problems from hemodialysis? What happens if I have been on dialysis and I decide to stop? What happens during hemodialysis? During hemodialysis, your blood is pumped through a filter, called a dialyzer. In the filter, your blood flows inside hollow fibers that filter out wastes and extra salt and water. Your doctor can adjust the balance of chemicals in the solution if your blood tests show your blood has too much or too little of certain minerals, such as potassium or calcium you have problems such as low blood pressure or muscle cramps during dialysis Can the dialyzer do everything my kidneys once did?

Dialysis center Most people go to a dialysis center for treatment. Getting longer overnight dialysis treatments means your days are free. Longer treatment sessions may reduce your symptoms. Home hemodialysis Home hemodialysis lets you have longer or more frequent dialysis, which comes closer to replacing the work healthy kidneys do—usually three to seven times per week, and with treatment sessions that last between 2 and 10 hours.

You can use standard home hemodialysis —three times a week or every other day for 3 to 5 hours short daily hemodialysis —5 to 7 days per week for 2 to 4 hours at a time nightly home hemodialysis —three to six times per week while you sleep Your doctor will decide how many treatments you need each week for daily or nightly home hemodialysis. More dialysis filters your blood more thoroughly Compared with a standard hemodialysis schedule, daily or nightly home hemodialysis will let you eat and drink more normally take fewer blood pressure medicines Healthy kidneys work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Getting more hemodialysis feels more like having healthy kidneys and lowers your chances for problems that are common with a standard hemodialysis schedule, such as painful muscle cramps from removing too much fluid too quickly high blood pressure, which can cause a headache or, in rare cases, a stroke low blood pressure, which can make you faint, feel sick to your stomach, or be more likely to fall high phosphate levels, which can weaken bones and make your skin itch Better quality of life Standard hemodialysis can make you feel tired or washed out for several hours after each treatment.

The home-training nurse may visit your home to help with your first at-home treatment. Dialysis center and home hemodialysis comparison Use the following chart to help you choose between treatment in a dialysis center or at home. Three to seven short or long treatments per week at times that work best for you.

Availability Available in most communities; may require travel in some rural areas. Becoming more widely available as smaller equipment is developed. You may need minor changes in your home to connect the machine to electricity and water.

Training The clinic teaches about treatments, diet, liquids, medicines, lab tests, etc. You and a partner must attend 3 to 8 weeks of home hemodialysis training.

Diet and liquids Strict limits on liquids, phosphorus, sodium, and potassium intake. Fewer limits on liquids or diet, based on the amount of hemodialysis and lab tests. Level of freedom Less freedom on treatment days. May feel washed out and tired for hours after each treatment. More freedom because you set the treatment schedule to meet the total amount prescribed. Work and travel are much easier. Amount of work Center staff members do hemodialysis tasks.