It can be hard to think that someday a machine may have to do the work your kidneys won't be able to do
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Creating a Hemodialysis Access
Before hemodialysis can be done, a way for blood to leave and return to your body (an access) is needed. A hemodialysis access is often made in your arm. The two main types of accesses are an arteriovenous fistula (AV fistula) and an arteriovenous graft (AV graft).
Accessing your Fistula for Hemodialysis
If you and your healthcare team have chosen hemodialysis to treat your kidney failure, you'll need an access point, or connection point, so that your blood can be cleaned by the dialysis machine several times a week. For most people, this access point is an AV fistula, often made in the patient's arm. By watching this program, you'll learn how your dialysis care team will access the fistula during dialysis.
Hemodialysis Access Bleeding
You have a hemodialysis access in your arm, either an arteriovenous (AV) fistula or an artery to vein graft. It has been bleeding. Blood needs to flow freely through the fistula or graft. As part of your treatment, you are also taking medication that thins your blood. This makes you bleed more easily. It is important to stop your fistula or graft from bleeding as soon as possible.
What is an Arteriovenous Graft for Hemodialysis?
Watch this clip to understand what an AV graft is and how it provides a strong access area to the bloodstream for hemodialysis treatments.
