Question

The patient has just returned from having an arteriovenous fistula placed. The patient asks,

"When will they be able to use this and take this other catheter out?" The nurse should
reply,
a. "It can be used immediately, so the catheter can come out anytime."
b. "It will take 2 to 4 weeks to heal before it can be used."
c. "The fistula will be usable in about 4 to 6 weeks."
d. "The fistula was made using graft material, so it depends on the manufacturer."

Answer 1

The arteriovenous fistula will be usable in 4 to 6 weeks after placement, as it needs time to mature and strengthen for hemodialysis.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct answer is c. "The fistula will be usable in about 4 to 6 weeks." After the placement of an arteriovenous fistula, it typically requires some time for the fistula to mature before it can be used for hemodialysis. During this maturation process, the blood vessels need to strengthen and enlarge enough to handle the repeated needle insertions and increased blood flow that comes with dialysis.

Immediately using the newly created fistula often leads to complications such as clotting, infection, or the failure of the fistula to mature properly. For this reason, it's essential to allow an appropriate healing period, which usually takes about 4 to 6 weeks, sometimes longer depending on individual healing rates and any complications that may arise. Once the fistula has matured, it provides a reliable and efficient method for accessing the bloodstream, which could allow for the removal of the other catheter that was previously inserted.