Dialysis Access Care – Dos and Don'ts for AV Fistulas and Grafts

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Do:

Check your access daily. Wash your hands with soap and water before touching the access site.
- Look for redness or swelling.
- Feel for a pulsing or buzzing feeling. Your care team might also call this a “thrill.”
- Listen for a whooshing or buzzing sound. Your care team might also call this a “bruit” (pronounced brew-wee).
- Let dialysis team know if you notice any difference.
Exercise your arm at least 3 times a day.
Wear loose clothing around your access.
Keep your access arm clean and moist. Use a skin moisturizer (lotion).
Tell people not to take blood or blood pressure from your access arm.
Tell people not to put an IV in your access arm.
Wear an armband that say “no needles or BP on this arm”.
Watch your blood pressure. Ask your doctor what is a good blood pressure for you. Let the dialysis team know if your BP is lower or higher than recommended.
Wash your access site prior to each dialysis treatment.
Call the doctor or nurse with any concerns or questions.
Don’t leave your pressure dressing on overnight after dialysis: Ask your care team what time you should remove your pressure dressing.

Don’t:

Don’t Apply Pressure: Avoid wearing tight clothing, watches, or bracelets on the access arm.
Do not sleep on your access arm.
Do not strike or cut your access arm.
Do not take, or let anyone else take, blood or blood pressure from your access arm.
Do not let anyone put an IV in your access arm.
Do not scratch or pick the skin of your access arm. It could cause an infection.
Do not let your access arm get dirty.
Don’t let animals touch the access site: Licking and scratching by animals leads to infection or damage to the access site.

To Learn More

Dialysis
206-987-3985
After hours, weekends and holidays call the hospital at 206-987-2000 and ask for the nephrologist on call.
Ask your child’s healthcare provider
seattlechildrens.org/patient-education

Free Interpreter Services

In the hospital, ask your nurse.
From outside the hospital, call the toll-free Family Interpreting Line, 1-866-583-1527. Tell the interpreter the name or extension you need.

Seattle Children’s offers free interpreter services for patients, family members and legal representatives who are deaf or hard of hearing or speak a language other than English. Seattle Children’s will make this information available in alternate formats upon request. Call the Family Resource Center at 206-987-2201. This handout has been reviewed by clinical staff at Seattle Children’s. However, your needs are unique. Before you act or rely upon this information, please talk with your healthcare provider.

07/01/2026

PE1017

Dialysis Access Care – Dos and Don'ts for AV Fistulas and Grafts

Do:

Don’t:

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