What Is a Fistula?
Reviewed: Dr. Gromatzky
8. Indications and Failures
Throughout a patient’s dependence on hemodialysis, less than 15% of dialysis fistulas remain patent and function without any issues. The average duration after the creation of a fistula is about 3 years while a prosthetic graft will last about 1 to 2 years before there is indication of fistula failure.
With interventions to treat thrombosis and stenosis, the fistula may last about 7 years in the forearm while in the upper arm, 3 to 5 years. Failure and occlusion of the fistula usually occur due to progressive narrowing. Other causes of failure include surgical trauma or obtaining repeated access to obtain blood samples. When in doubt, an interventional radiologist should be consulted.
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