Clinical Education
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
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.
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.
Dr LiangVascular
Begin with a careful assessment.
Symptoms, examination and ultrasound findings are considered before treatment options are discussed.
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