Transcription of Just the Facts: VascularAccess - lifeoptions.org
1 Why is a VascularAccess important tome?Your access is your dialysis lifeline. Youhave only a few sites for vascular is important to care for your access so itwill last as long as happens in access surgery?Afistula or graft is most often placed in anarm, but sometimes in a leg. Your doctorwill decide which type of access will workbest for you. Ask your doctor if a fistulawill work for for a fistula or graft is often donewith local anesthesia on an outpatient may be needed for mild tomoderate pain. Sometimes swelling of thearm may occur for a few days or can my access be used? It is best to create an access before it is needed for dialysis. If a new access is usedtoo soon after surgery, it can be fistula should ideally not be used for3 to 4 months after graftshould not be used for 3 to 6 should I do aftersurgery?
2 Exercise that brings more blood flow to thearm can help a fistula to work a rubber ball many times a daycan help the fistula mature, or becomeready to is a VascularAccess ?Avascularaccessis a way to reach theblood vessels for hemodialysis. There arethree types:Afistulais your artery and vein sewedtogether. Blood from the artery makes thevein thicker so it can be used for is often the longest-lasting a piece of man-made bloodvessel. It is used to connect an artery and a vein a plastic tube placed into avein in the neck, chest, or groin. Cathetersmay be used for a short time while a fistulaor graft is healing. In some patients withvery poor veins and arteries, a permanentcatheter may be placed in the from Core Curriculum for the Dialysis Technician, 1998 just the Facts: VascularAccessFistulaArteryVeinArteryVei nGraftMarch 2005 How can I keep my access working?
3 ProblemHow can I prevent it? What should I ask? I want to Keep your access clean. How should I clean my access ?avoid infection. Be sure your access is washed Do I need to cover my accesswith antibacterial soap andin the bathtub or shower?iodine or alcohol before it is Can I swim in a pool or a lake?used for dialysis. Who should I call if I have an Tell the nurse if your access isaccess problem?warm, red, has pus, or you havea want to Learn how to feel the thrill Can my doctor or nurse tellavoid blockage.(vibration) and listen for thethat my access is not workingbruit(buzzing) in your How do they know?Tell the nurse if the thrill or If my access is blocked, canbruit be fixed? How? Tell the nurse if your hand iscold, blue, numb, painful, orhard to don t want Learn how needle sites are What is the needle rotation to injure myrotated on your access .
4 Be surepattern for my access ? right site is used at each How much weight can I after surgery? When Do not carry heavy weightscan I carry more?across the access . Can I wear a watch or hang a Avoid pressure on the accesspurse over my access arm?during sleep. How can I avoid sleeping on Avoid tight access arm? Do not allow blood pressureor blood draws from this can I get more information about VascularAccess ? Visit Kidney School Module 8: vascular access : ALifeline for Focus on Fistulas/Your access : AChoice for a Better Life, In ControlVol. 1 #1, March a free copy go to Understanding your hemodialysis acces request a free copy, call the American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) at (800) 749-AAKPor visit their website at Options Rehabilitation Program414 D Onofrio Drive, Ste.
5 200, Madison, WI 53719 (800) by Amgen Inc.
