Patient Education

• Planning Ahead for a Fistula - Patient Education Resource
• Vascular Access – A Lifeline for Dialysis
  Comprehensive self-paced education module that provides comprehensive and easy to understand information about vascular access for patients. This Internet based tool teaches the types of vascular access, how VA is used during hemodialysis and how to keep the vascular access healthy. (Kidney School Web site link)
• Vascular Access for Hemodialysis
  Explains the types of hemodialysis vascular access, including what happens with the access during hemodialysis, possible access problems and how to take care of the access. (NKUDIC link)
• Understanding Your Hemodialysis Access Options
  This 16-page brochure outlines the various access devices available for patients on hemodialysis. The brochure offers a brief description of arteriovenous fistulas, grafts, catheters and subcutaneous access devices as well as the benefits and drawbacks of each. The brochure also includes a brief section on how to properly care for each kind of access device. (AAKP web site)
• How to Care for Your Fistula After Surgery (English and Spanish)
  Patient education brochure developed by Network #15 discusses how to care for AVF after surgery. (Network #15 Web site link)
• Internet Resources for Patients
  Listing of Internet resources offering VA education for patients.
• Buttonhole Method
  from the Home Dialysis Central web site
• Fistula Exercises
  Patient education brochure developed by Network #15 describes exercises the patient can do to help AVF mature. (Network #15 Web site link)
• Self-Cannulation of Vascular Access Procedure
  Article to promote self-care for those who have mature accesses from the National Vascular Access Improvement Initiative (NVAII) Tools and Resources Sub-committee.