| Vascular access for hemodialysis: Caring for your child after the procedure | 1245.00000000000 | Vascular access for hemodialysis: Caring for your child after the procedure | Vascular access for hemodialysis: Caring for your child after the procedure | V | English | Nephrology | Child (0-12 years);Teen (13-18 years) | Arm | Arteries;Veins | Non-drug treatment | Caregivers
Adult (19+) | NA | | 2011-11-30T05:00:00Z | | Maria Di Mola, RN | | | | 6.50000000000000 | 71.5000000000000 | 743.000000000000 | | Health (A-Z) - Procedure | Health A-Z | <p>The following information will help you to properly care for your child after vascular access surgery.</p> | <p>Your child has had a procedure to improve <a href="/Article?contentid=1034&language=English">vascular access</a> for hemodialysis. This brochure explains how to care for your child at home after the procedure, and when to call for help.</p>
<h2>When can my child go home?</h2>
<ul>
<li>Your child can go home on the same day as the surgery. </li>
</ul> | | <h2>Key points</h2>
<ul>
<li>You can remove your child's bandage after 48 hours. Wash the area with mild soap and water and then pat dry.</li>
<li>Listen for the "bruit" or feel for the "thrill" in your child's fistula or graft four times a day (first thing in the morning and the last thing at night).</li>
<li>Your child should keep their arm up when resting to reduce swelling. </li>
<li>If your child is showing signs of infection or thrombosis call your doctor right away or take your child to the nearest emergency department.</li>
</ul> | | | | | | | <h2>Possible complications of AV fistula and AV graft</h2>
<h3>Two major complications are possible:</h3>
<ul>
<li>infection</li>
<li>thrombosis (clotting of fistula or graft)</li>
</ul>
<h3>Signs of infection</h3>
<ul>
<li>warm painful area over your child's access site</li>
<li>redness and swelling over your child's access site</li>
<li>fever of more than 38.0°C (100.4°F)</li>
</ul>
<h3>Signs of thrombosis</h3>
<ul>
<li>no "bruit" or sound over your child's access site</li>
<li>painful, hard welling over your child's access site</li>
</ul> | <h2>Taking care of your child's vascular access</h2>
<ul>
<li>After surgery, your child will have a bandage on their arm. Keep it dry for 48 hours after the surgery.</li>
<li>After 48 hours, remove the bandage and wash the area with mild soap and water. Gently pat this area dry with a towel. If there are small pieces of white tape under the bandage, leave them in place for one week or until they fall off.</li>
<li>After the bandage is removed, the incision may ooze clear fluid. If this happens, cover the incision with clean, dry gauze. Change the gauze every day.</li>
<li>Your child's surgeon may use Steri-Strips, staples or dissolvable sutures (stitches) to close your child's incision.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Steri-Strips, staples or sutures</h2>
<h3>Steri-Strips</h3>
<p>Leave Steri-Strips on until they fall off on their own. This usually this happens four to seven days after the surgery.</p>
<h3>Staples</h3>
<p>Staples can be taken out 10 to 14 days after the surgery.</p>
<h3>Dissolvable sutures</h3>
<p>Leave dissolvable sutures alone. They will dissolve on their own within 10 days. </p>
<h2>Caring for your child's fistula or graft</h2>
<h3>DO:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Keep the line of stitches on your child's fistula or graft clean and dry until the wound edges have sealed (approx. 48 hrs.).</li>
<li>Notify your child's doctor or dialysis unit immediately if the fistula or graft is red, tender or painful.</li>
<li>Encourage your child to drink fluids within their fluid allowance (to prevent dehydration).</li>
<li>Encourage your child to keep their arm up when resting to reduce swelling. This can be done by placing your child's arm on a pillow at the same level as their heart.</li>
<li>notify your child's doctor immediately if the access site bulges more than usual or your child experiences low blood pressure, dizziness or lightheadedness.</li>
<li>listen for the "bruit" or feel for the "thrill" in your child's fistula or graft four times a day (first thing in the morning and the last thing at night).</li>
</ul>
<h3>DON'T:</h3>
<ul>
<li>allow your child's arm with the fistula or graft to be injured.</li>
<li>allow your child's blood pressure to be taken on that arm.</li>
<li>allow blood to be taken from that arm </li>
<li>allow an intravenous line to be started in that arm.</li>
<li>allow your child to carry heavy items using that arm.</li>
<li>allow your child to sleep on that arm.</li>
<li>allow your child to wear a watch or bracelet on that arm.</li>
<li>allow your child to wear tight sleeves.</li>
<li>allow your child to pick any scab formations on that arm.</li>
</ul> | | <h2>When to seek help</h2>
<p>Call the hospital immediately if you think your child is suffering from an infection or thrombosis. </p>
<p>Nephrologist (on call): (416) 813-7500</p>
<p>Hemodialysis unit: (416) 813-7653</p>
<h3>After hours:</h3>
<p>Go to the nearest Emergency Department.</p> | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | <h2>At SickKids</h2>
<h3>Pain Medication </h3>
<p>Before you leave, we will give your child a prescription for _____________________________. If your child has an allergy to this medication, we will provide them with a different prescription. Most people need medication for only a few days.</p>
<h3>Other Medications</h3>
<p>If your child stopped taking their blood thinning medication before the surgery, please speak to a doctor about restarting this medication before leaving the hospital.</p> | | | <img alt="" src="https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/AKHAssets/vascular_access_hemodialysis_caring_for_child_at_home.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/AKHAssets/vascular_access_hemodialysis_caring_for_child_at_home.jpg | | | | | | | Vascular access for hemodialysis: Caring for your child after the procedure | | False | | | | | |
