AV Fistula

- An arteriovenous (AV) fistula is an abnormal connection between an artery and a vein. Under normal circumstances, blood flows from arteries into tiny blood vessels called capillaries, and then into veins. Capillaries facilitate the transfer of oxygen and nutrients from the blood to tissues in the body.
- In the case of an AV fistula, blood bypasses the capillaries and flows directly from an artery into a vein. This direct flow can reduce the amount of blood and nutrients reaching the tissues downstream of the bypassed capillaries.

Location: AV fistulas most often occur in the legs but can form in any part of the body.

Purpose in Dialysis: A surgically created AV fistula is often used to provide vascular access for hemodialysis in patients with severe kidney disease.

The symptoms of an AV fistula depend on its size and location in the body. Large or untreated AV fistulas can lead to significant complications, such as:
Reduced blood flow to tissues
Heart failure due to increased cardiac output demands
Pain or swelling near the fistula

References

Mayo Clinic. (2023). Arteriovenous fistula. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). (2023). Vascular Access for Hemodialysis. Retrieved from https://www.niddk.nih.gov/
Cleveland Clinic. (2023). Arteriovenous Malformations and Fistulas. Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/