New Buttonhole Fistula screening protocol
Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2016 5:15 pm
From Barts Health (London)
I am writing to you because you are a "Home Haemodialyis" patient.
This letter is important to you if you "button hole" needle your dialysis fistula (use "blunt" needles).
You might be aware that people who "button hole" their fistula have a higher rate of infections. However, there are benefits to "button hole" needling.
1) Prolonged fistula life span
2) Prevent and reduce your fistula developing aneurysms
3) Is less painful during needling
4) Has less bleeding after haemodialysis
Overall, we believe that people who perform their dialysis at home have fewer infections that than people who have their dialysis in the hospital. But, if you are worried about the increased infection risk with button holing or if you want to change to "sharp needling", please contact me or a member of the Home HD Team.
To reduce the risk of you getting an infection, we want to start a "Screening Program".
We shall routinely perform swabs of your nose and fistula every 3 months.
We shall swab the inside of your nose and the skin over your fistula when you come to have your "Monthly Bloods" in January, April, July and October.
If these swabs show that you are "colonised" by Staph aureus bacteria, we will ask you to use special body washes and a special antibiotic ointment for your nose.
If you have any questions, please contact me or a member of the Home HD Team.
Yours Sincerely