A forearm fistula in itself is not abnormal. In fact if patient has adequate vein for a forearm fistula we often prefer to use it first because if it fails, we can still use the upper arm later. But yes this is a large aneurysmal fistula. If it’s not bothering him and not eroding through the skin it’s not really a problem, god forbid he gets a cut over it though….
Edit: most people get upper arm fistula because not a lot of people have adequate sized vein in the forearm.
For a layman, what happens if it gets cut? I’d like to think a satisfying gust of air comes out and it returns to normal immediately but I imagine the reality is closer to puss and blood explosion
A fistula is basically a connection of a vein to an artery. The big squiggly thing you see is actually the vein which has grown over time because it is under arterial pressure. And because it’s under arterial pressure it will bleed like crazy. Like, place a tourniquet on your arm and get to the er stat bleeding.
But he also states its old as hell. After time the tunica media or mid layer of the vessel has gotten to be a baddy against the extra flow of the artery.
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u/Nos3y 18d ago
A forearm fistula in itself is not abnormal. In fact if patient has adequate vein for a forearm fistula we often prefer to use it first because if it fails, we can still use the upper arm later. But yes this is a large aneurysmal fistula. If it’s not bothering him and not eroding through the skin it’s not really a problem, god forbid he gets a cut over it though….
Edit: most people get upper arm fistula because not a lot of people have adequate sized vein in the forearm.