Fistula vs Graft

[DomJDavis1985]

So in doing research i have heard that the Fistula is the best choice for Dialysis because it allows you to get the best out of your Dialysis....however i have heard so many horror stories...right now i have a Temp Catheter which i know i will have to get rid of soon...with all the horror stories about the Fistula as well as the questions that i may get from people who see it, i have been considering getting a Graft.....what exactly is a Graft and is there anyone that has one or knows someone that has one that can tell me about it? 

It seems like the doctors are pressing me to get the Fistula and no one has suggested a Graft so perhaps they do not like doing the Grafts???  I am a hard stick..Phlebotomists always have trouble finding a vein in my arms when drawing blood and/or putting in IVs and usually have to stick me several times...or usually call in the most trained/longest employed Phlebotomist when drawing blood lol

[MooseMom]

Here are a couple of links you may find useful...

www.fistulafirst.org

http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/vascularaccess/

Generally, a fistula will have fewer problems in the long term, although no type of access is entirely problem-free for all eternity.  Get a fistula if you can as they are truly considered to be the best type of access for most people.

[sullidog]

Get a fistula if you can, I have a graft but my vains or bad. I'm trying hard to get a fistula still.

[Rerun]

First of all don't let them rush you about getting your permacath out.  Yes, it MAY, I said MAY get infected but if you are careful and clean it MAY, MAY not!  I've never gotten and infection and I've had several and for long periods of time.  This doctor in my clinic was on dialysis and he was no way going to get anything other than a cathater......  hmmmm what does he know that we don't?

Second, I wish they would give me a graft but they won't.  I truly think that fistulas require more surgeries so it is more money for them.  Job security if you will.

They will do vein mapping in your arms to see if they can try a fistula.  Just see what they say. 

[DomJDavis1985]

First of all don't let them rush you about getting your permacath out.  Yes, it MAY, I said MAY get infected but if you are careful and clean it MAY, MAY not!  I've never gotten and infection and I've had several and for long periods of time.  This doctor in my clinic was on dialysis and he was no way going to get anything other than a cathater......  hmmmm what does he know that we don't?

Second, I wish they would give me a graft but they won't.  I truly think that fistulas require more surgeries so it is more money for them.  Job security if you will.

They will do vein mapping in your arms to see if they can try a fistula.  Just see what they say.

yeah they did vein mapping for me when i was in the hospital about 3 weeks ago...honestly even though they say that the catheter is the worse i would rather stay with that...even if i have to keep getting several over the next few years..The catheter is alot more discreet than the fistula and as stated before i don't want Dialysis to disrupt my life anymore than it already has. Plus i have a few friends and family that may step up to be living donors...so if a living donor is a possibility in the next year or two then i don't want to waste the time or money on a fistula.

I am wondering though if i insist on keeping my  catheter and i get put on the transplant list will they view this as me being "difficult" and possibly hurt my chances of getting a transplant

[Stoday]

Second, I wish they would give me a graft but they won't.  I truly think that fistulas require more surgeries so it is more money for them.  Job security if you will.

That doesn't apply in the UK where health is provided by the National Health Service. Fistulas here are considered the best access method with least problems.

[lmunchkin]

My husband has had just about every thing in him! Let me explain it as short & simple as I can and maybe you will coinsider your options. Anything not natural or objects that are not part of your body (foreign objects) the body has a natural reaction to it and attacks it. Thus your various infections. You keep it in there a long time chances are it will happen. It is very rare that someone can use a temp cath or a graph for a real long period of time. Not saying it's impossible, just rare!  When hubby finally got his fistula, and yes it took several times to get it done right, and yes I do believe it is about money sometimes, he was once a hard stick to aGREAT stick.  And to boot, it is his natural vein. 

They go in an tie off a bunch of vessels to create this one large one and you can never find it hard to hit. He can shower with it and not have to worry bout infections.  I must admit, I was one that did not want his temp cath removed but understood where those veins were going and if infection settled in, it would be katie bar the door.  It was a risk that this caregiver was not willing to take.  So long story short, we settled on the fistula & an excellent vascular surgeon, and we are glad that we did.

Been sticking him for 8mths now and no problems what-so-ever! Wish we would have gone that route a long time ago! Only draw back to it is the looks hubby gets when it is exposed. I much rather go with ease than looks any day.  Hope that helps!


lmunchkin

[MooseMom]

That's a brilliant photo of you, Dominque.

[DomJDavis1985]

    Lol, Thanks@MooseMom