Caring for Your Hemodialysis Access

It's important to care for and protect your access to help it last. A problem such as an infection or a blood clot may make your access unusable. This may happen more often with an arteriovenous graft than with an arteriovenous fistula. If this occurs, you may need a new access. Follow these guidelines to help protect your access.

Watching for problems

Call your healthcare provider right away if you:

• Can’t feel the blood flowing in the access (this sensation is called a thrill)

• Have pain or numbness in your hand or arm

• Have bleeding, redness, a bluish color, or warmth around your access

• Notice your access suddenly bulging out more than usual (a slight bulge is normal)

• Have a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or as advised by your provider

Follow these and any other guidelines you’re given

• Don’t wear tight clothes or jewelry around your access.

• Don’t let anyone take your blood pressure on or draw blood from the arm with the access. Also don’t let anyone put IV (intravenous) lines into it.

• Protect your access from being hit or cut.

• Wash your hands often and keep the area around the access clean.

• Do not carry anything heavy or do anything that would put pressure on the access.

Feeling for your thrill

If you put your fingers over your access, you should feel the blood rushing through it. This is called a thrill, and it feels like a vibration. Feel for the thrill as often as you're told, usually once or twice a day. If you can't feel it, tell your healthcare provider right away. Blood may not be flowing through your access the way it should.

Important numbers

Write the names and numbers of your healthcare providers below or have them programed into your cellphone. That way you will know how to get in touch with them.

Healthcare Provider:

Name ___________________ Phone ___________________

Surgeon:

Name ___________________ Phone ___________________

Dialysis Center:

Name ___________________ Phone ___________________

How daily issues affect your health

Many things in your daily life impact your health. This can include transportation, money problems, housing, access to food, and child care. If you can’t get to medical appointments, you may not receive the care you need. When money is tight, it may be difficult to pay for medicines. And living far from a grocery store can make it hard to buy healthy food.

If you have concerns in any of these or other areas, talk with your healthcare team. They may know of local resources to assist you. Or they may have a staff person who can help.