How to Care for Your Dialysis Access

Your dialysis access is a critical part of your hemodialysis treatment, whether you have a dialysis fistula, graft, or catheter. Keeping it healthy helps you stay on schedule and reduces the risk of serious complications like dialysis catheter infection or access thrombosis. At LVAC, we encourage all patients to take an active role in their care by learning how to properly protect and monitor their vascular access site—every single day.

Fistula and Graft Care:

Daily Guidelines

To help your dialysis access last longer and function better:

  • Keep the skin clean and dry

  • Never sleep on the access arm

  • Avoid IVs, blood draws, or blood pressure checks on that arm

  • Protect from injury—no heavy lifting or tight clothing

  • Inspect daily for signs of trouble:

    • Redness, swelling, or drainage

    • Enlarging bumps or thin, shiny skin

    • Color changes or sores that don’t heal

Catheter Care:

Safety Essentials

If you have a dialysis catheter (sometimes referred to as  a dialysis line in the chest or neck), take these precautions seriously to reduce the risk of infection or catheter malfunction:

  • Never use scissors or sharp tools near your catheter

  • Keep the dressing clean, dry, and in place

  • Only use your catheter for dialysis

  • Avoid pulling or snagging the catheter

  • Watch for signs of infection:

    • Redness or warmth at the site

    • Drainage

    • Pain or tenderness

Bottom line, if you feel like something is wrong—such as unusual pain, redness, or your catheter site feeling warm to the touch—please call us. Our team is here to support you.

Daily Self-Check: Look, Listen, and Feel

A few moments of observation each day can help detect problems early.

Stylized icon of an eye with a magnifying glass, representing observation or vision.

Step 1: LOOK

  • Check for redness, swelling, drainage, or skin changes around your fistula, graft, or catheter

  • Watch for new or enlarging bumps or shiny, stretched skin

  • Never disturb scabs or healing areas

Line drawing of a human ear.

Step 2: LISTEN

  • Listen to the bruit (“broo-ee”)—a whooshing sound

  • Use a stethoscope or place your ear close to the access

  • It should be a low, continuous sound. A high-pitched or absent sound could indicate dialysis line occlusion or blockage.

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Step 3: FEEL

  • Lightly touch your access to feel the “thrill”—a soft vibration

  • A strong pulse without vibration may signal a clot or graft thrombosis

  • Fistulas feel soft, grafts feel firm or tube-like

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What Your Care Team Does

During dialysis, your caregivers are responsible for:

Handwashing and glove use before handling your dialysis access

  • Inspecting your site for changes or complications

  • Cleaning the area thoroughly before needle insertion

  • Rotating needle sites on your dialysis fistula or graft to prevent damage

  • Monitoring catheter exit sites for infection

  • Wearing masks (you should too) when accessing catheter caps

  • Teaching you how to apply pressure after needle removal

Need Help or Have Questions?

Never ignore a change in how your dialysis access looks, feels, or sounds. Early action can prevent serious complications and avoid missed treatments.

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