by wagolynn » Sat Sep 24, 2016 3:55 pm
Hi,
They will start to use your fistula, when it is ready, using the 'ladder' method, this is said to help the fistula to develop.
Ladder - The needles are inserted at a fresh point on the fistula at each session, they generally start low down on your arm, and move up a few millimetres each time like steps in a ladder.
Once the fistula is settled then button hole has some important advantages, see the letter above.
Button Hole - The needles are inserted in the same holes every time, at first they use sharp needles but after around three times they will change to blunt needles.
This works because scar tissue forms to make a tube down to the blood vessel, the tube guides the needle, if the operator knows what they are doing that is, many do not.
At each session the scab has to be removed from the outer end of the hole. This scab is thought to be the main way of carrying bacteria into the blood stream, which is what the letter is about.
The scab usually comes off very easily.