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Fistula Creation

Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2016 2:05 pm
by pink_hair
Newbie here.
Hubby has just had av fistula created in his upper arm (19/9/16). How long does it take to get the 'wiggly worm' look. Can feel it buzzing but can't see any difference yet. Hubby worried as nurse last week was talking about angioplasty but surely this is still early days?
Hubby CKD 4 since childhood and now eGFR12

Re: Fistula Creation

Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2016 2:26 pm
by wagolynn
Hi pink_hair,

A new fistula is usually used after 4 to 6 weeks. In the mean time keep checking for the 'buzz' or 'thrill' , if this disappears report to your doctor immediately.

Avoid tight cloths on that arm.

Once the wound has healed, do whatever exercises have been recommended.

Once in use the blood vessel will get larger, the medics usually say it has 'developed'.

Best wishes.

Re: Fistula Creation

Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2016 9:56 pm
by pink_hair
Thanks for reply.
I know it takes a while to mature. Do you have one and do you remember how long it took before it 'looked' obvious or does that only happen once it's in use...we are hoping he can avoid dialysis as his mum is mid way worked up to be a donor ( but got taken off transplant list in Jan as assumption is he will not need anything til eGFR 8 and tends to vary by a couple of points either way)

Re: Fistula Creation

Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2016 1:32 pm
by wagolynn
Hi pink_hair,

Yes I have a fistula.

With some people it takes a very long time to appear as a prominent blood vessel, the only clue is the fistula scar, and the scaring from being needled, I think it depends on how deep the blood vessel is.

After a fistula has been in use for a while, there may be some bulges that appear, where the blood vessel has formed an aneurism (the blood vessel expands locally). These are caused by weak places in the vessel or if the needle cuts into the inside of the blood vessel making it weaker.

If you Google blood vessels, you will find they are a complex structure rather than being just simple tubes.

Re: Fistula Creation

Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2016 8:12 am
by pink_hair
Thanks.

I think that will reassure him.

Re: Fistula Creation

Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2016 10:45 am
by JMan
Not all fistulas have the 'Wiggley Worm' look.. sometimes its better that they dont'

Keep any eye on it and read some basic fistula info.

http://esrdncc.org/ffcl/for-ffcl-patien ... materials/

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Dialysis/P ... ormed.aspx

Fistula Fanatic:
Facebook page for better fistula care:

https://www.facebook.com/purplechick820?fref=nf