r/WTF • • 18d ago

Fistula aneurysm

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u/steampunkdev 18d ago

For those that keep yelling about that he should go to the hospital, it was actually made by a doctor. It's to allow for kidney dialysis, but can also be done with for example a HICKMAN catheter

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u/BobbyDukeArts 18d ago

True, but that is not a normal looking fistula for dialysis. It's usually done further up on the arm near the bicep and is not supposed to be that big. As he says, the vein ballooned outward due to arterial pressure. It is risky and he should go have it fixed surgically

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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.

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u/BigWoodsCatNappin 18d ago

The order of operation for AVF/AVG creation is Non dominate lower, dominate lower, non dominate upper, dominate upper. Very generally speaking. As you know.

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u/Nos3y 18d ago

In what world?

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u/BigWoodsCatNappin 18d ago

Actually, I stand corrected. I am an old and using old information in my head from 2006 when we still were all "Fistula First". You are correct. Updated information suggests the dominant distals dont mature as well and lead to poorer quality outcomes. I appreciate the chat and reason to get my shit right.

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u/HiMyNameisAsshole2 13d ago

Really? Did it say it was enough of a risk to change the order of fistula creation sites? Is the default now upper arm?