Self cannulation for home hemodialysis: strategies for success

Self-cannulation is a technique that allows patients on hemodialysis to place the needles into their own vascular access, a fistula, or graft for the purpose of hemodialysis. This practice helps to empower individuals having to undergo hemodialysis with the opportunity to be active participants in their own care. It also reduces anxiety of needles and increases familiarity of the vascular access, thereby reducing the risk of infiltration and infection because only one person is performing the cannulation.