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 nurse should reply, 'The fistula will be usable in about 4 to 6 weeks.'

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should reply, c. 'The fistula will be usable in about 4 to 6 weeks.' After having an arteriovenous fistula placed, it takes time for the fistula to heal and mature before it can be used for dialysis.

During the healing process, the fistula develops a strong connection between the artery and vein, allowing for efficient blood flow during dialysis. It is important to wait for the fistula to mature before removing any other catheter or accessing the fistula for dialysis.