Coil Placed in Arm Fistula?

[LarryG]

I had to go to the Access Care Clinic to have my fistula looked at and tweaked. They usually do an angioplasty to widen the artery because of stenosis. The nurse came out with a jar with something in it that looked like a  curled up centipede and said they had place a coil in my arm to divert the small veins into the artery to create a better flow in the machine. Has anyone ever heard of this or had this done?
Larry

[Rerun]

No, I have not heard of this.  Keep us posted on how it works.

             

[Meinuk]

I have a coil in my lower arm.  (which is ironic, even though my fistula was removed, the coil stayed in)

It is called an embolization coil.  Here is some info (coil paragraph in BOLD):

from http://www.chop.edu/service/radiology/interventional-radiology/dialysis-graft-intervention.html

What is a dialysis fistula or graft intervention?

There are two types of permanent vascular access for dialysis: arteriovenous (AV) fistula and arteriovenous (AV) graft. A surgeon creates an AV fistula by connecting an artery directly to a vein, most commonly in the forearm. Alternatively, a surgeon creates an AV graft by connecting an artery to a vein using a synthetic tube or graft.

Sometimes the blood flow from an AV fistula or AV graft becomes too low due to a narrowing, a blood clot, or the formation of a collateral (accessory) blood vessel that is diverting blood flow.

An interventional radiologist can correct these problems with fistula intervention or graft intervention.

How is the procedure performed?

Using live X-ray (fluoroscopy) for guidance, the doctor will insert a catheter (a tiny tube) into a vein or artery, usually in the arm or leg, and guide it to the fistula or graft.

Then one of three things will happen:

For a narrowing, the doctor will thread a small, deflated balloon through the catheter into the narrowing and then slowly inflate the balloon to
widen the narrowing. Sometimes more than one balloon is used.

For a blood clot, the catheter will be connected to a small machine that sprays a saline solution onto the clot to break it up, and then suctions out the pieces of the clot. The procedure may need to be repeated.

For a collateral blood vessel, the doctor will thread a tiny metal coil through the catheter and place it in the vessel. This will block blood from flowing into the collateral blood vessel, restoring the full flow of blood into the graft or fistula. Sometimes more than one coil is placed.