Final answer:
Measuring blood pressure on the arm with an arteriovenous fistula can lead to clotting and is to be avoided. Auscultating with a stethoscope is an acceptable practice to assess the functionality of the fistula. Discomfort after dialysis treatment is generally expected.
Step-by-step explanation:
Important Postoperative Care for Arteriovenous Fistula
When providing care to a patient who had surgery to form an arteriovenous fistula for hemodialysis, it's important to avoid measuring blood pressure on the arm with the fistula. Taking blood pressure on the affected arm can result in complications, including the clotting of the fistula. However, using a stethoscope to auscultate the fistula is not contraindicated; in fact, listening for the "whooshing" sound, or bruit, with a stethoscope is a way to check for a functioning fistula. It is also common for patients to feel soreness or discomfort after dialysis treatments, and not necessarily feel their best immediately following treatment.First, the patient should not feel pain during the initiation of dialysis, as this can indicate a problem with the fistula and may require medical attention. Second, taking a blood pressure reading on the affected arm can cause clotting of the fistula, so it is important to avoid this. Finally, using a stethoscope for auscultating the fistula is contraindicated, as it can disrupt blood flow and potentially damage the fistula.