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- Vascular access allows enough blood to be taken to the dialysis machine and returned during haemodialysis.
- An arteriovenous fistula uses your own blood vessels, a graft uses an artificial tube and a catheter uses a tube in a large vein.
- With a fistula or graft, feel for the usual vibration every day. An absent or clearly changed vibration may mean the access is becoming blocked.
- Keep the access clean and protected; do not allow blood pressure measurement, an intravenous line or blood sampling in the access arm unless the dialysis team specifically arranges this.
- Redness, warmth, pus, fever, a cold painful hand, increasing swelling and bleeding that is hard to stop are warning signs.
- For a problem, call the dialysis centre first according to your personal emergency plan; call 912 if life is in danger or for heavy bleeding that does not stop.
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