Daily access care before and after dialysis
ENGLISH
Spend one minute each day looking at and feeling your access. Check for redness, discharge, unusual bleeding and the familiar thrill.
Do not allow blood-pressure cuffs or blood draws on the access arm, and avoid tight sleeves or prolonged pressure.
- Look for redness, discharge or bleeding
- Feel for the familiar thrill
- Notice swelling, cold fingers or pain
1.Three daily checks
- Look: check for redness, discharge, wounds or unusual bleeding.
- Feel: confirm that the familiar thrill is still present.
- Listen to your body: notice sudden arm swelling or cold, painful fingers.
2.What should the access arm avoid?
- No blood-pressure measurements or blood draws.
- Avoid tight sleeves.
- Avoid heavy pressure or sleeping on the arm.
- Follow your dialysis unit's advice about lifting.
💡 Daily access care
| Situation | What you can do | When to ask for help |
|---|---|---|
| Every day | Look, feel and check the thrill | Report anything different |
| After needle removal | Apply pressure as instructed | Report longer bleeding |
| Redness or discharge | Keep clean; do not squeeze | Seek prompt assessment |
| No thrill | Do not massage it | Contact dialysis or vascular care immediately |
Note: An absent thrill, sudden swelling, cold painful fingers or possible infection needs prompt medical assessment.
References
- Sidawy AN, et al. J Vasc Surg. 2008;48(5 Suppl):2S–25S. View source
- Schmidli J, et al. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg. 2018;55(6):757–818. View source
This article is for health education only and does not replace individual medical assessment. Seek urgent care for acute symptoms.
← Back to vascular tips