What becomes of a fistula after transplant?

[chiefsfan301]

I have a left upper arm fistula and was just wondering what becomes of a fistula after a transplant?  My fistula has only been used for 5 months and I am expecting a transplant within the next 10 months, currently my fistula has signs of two aneurysm's starting to pop up.  Will the aneurysm's continue to grow after transplant?

[kellyt]

Mine stopped working the day after I transplanted.  My doctor said that happens sometimes, but not always that soon.  Mine was in my upper arm, too, but I never used it.

Congratulations on your upcoming transplant!  Plenty of time to plan and prepare!   

[jennyc]

they told me mine would just stay until it failed on its own. They leave it incase they need access after the TX becuase it doesn't always work straight away. Then after that i think they don't really want to do another procedure when it isn't necessary. Not sure about the aneurysm's though, mine never actually got used. I have a lump that appeared as soon as the fistula matured and that has stayed but nothing new ever cropped up and it hasn't grown.

[Brianna!]

I heard that the fistula gets less noticeable once it isn't used anymore. I think the aneurysms go away. And the bumps from it being used, get small and sometimes go flat. I think it if clots after transplant the fistula bumps go away completely. This is just what I heard. I'm kinda wondering the same thing.

[monrein]

The one in my forearm clotted off a year after my first transplant and is just a totally flat scar now...no big deal at all.  My second in the upper arm is still going strong a year later but I have no aneurysms.  I don't know if it will clot off or not but so far no signs of going anywhere.

[lola]

2 of Otto's brothers have had there's since 1980 and they still work!!!!!!

[Stacy Without An E]

My original 1982 fistula stopped working about two years after my first kidney transplant.  The only reason I noticed it is because there was some discomfort and dull pain for about two or three days.  They tend to clot off on their own if they're not used.

For those of you scoring at home, in my lifetime that's two fistulas, two kidney transplants, one failed PD catheter, and one graft.

A couple more surgeries and I believe I'll officially be bionic.

[sullidog]

My friends clotted off after transplant, it got bairly noticeable and you can't even feel it anymore, meaning you can't feel to tell anything was even there.
Troy

[*kana*]

MY vascular surgeon told me that they can go in a tie them off.  I say leave them alone!

[Chris]

When I had my transplant at the end of 2000 this was one of the questions I had  at their transplant seminar. At the time before mine clotted off, I was told nothing would be done in order to avoid any unnecessary risk. My graft in my upper arm is still going, but wish the would remove it, it get's itchy. After 9 years, I don't think they would do anything if their protocol has changed.