Cardiac ischemia or arrhythmia (irrregular heart beats)
Long-term risks include:
Dialysis-associated amyloidosis
Dialysis dementia (uncommon now that aluminium levels are closely monitored)
Cardiovascular disease
Autonomic Neuropathy
Blood loss leading to iron deficiency (requiring regular iron replacement)
Special considerations:
Take the following precautions if you using an AVF or AVG:
When you sleep, avoid placing pressure on an arm with the access.
Do not allow anyone to take a blood pressure reading on an arm with the access.
Observe the access site after dialysis, watching for swelling, infection, or bleeding.
Do not wear tight clothing around the access site.
Routinely check the access site for the "thrill", indicating that the AV site is still functioning. (If the thrill disappears, call your health care provider immediately.)
Do not use creams or lotions over the access site.
If you have an external access, take additional precautions:
Avoid physical activity that might dislodge the access, which could result in excessive bleeding and air entering the circulatory system. (If this happens, call 911 and get immediate medical attention.)
If the color in the tubes changes color and becomes a dark red, call your health care provider immediately. (The blood may be clotting.)
Call your health care provider immediately if your have a fever or other sign of infection.
Review Date: 12/9/2005
Reviewed By: Colm C. Magee, MD, MPH, Medical Director, Renal Transplant, Brigham & Women's Hospital, and Assistant Professor, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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