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Nutritional blood flow to the limbs after access procedures
Proceedings of the European Dialysis and Transplant Association. European Dialysis and Transplant Association
|January 1, 1978
Summary
Radiocephalic fistulae in dialysis patients can significantly reduce skin and muscle blood flow, especially in symptomatic individuals, potentially causing pain and other complications.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Surgery
- Nephrology
- Physiology
Background:
- Radiocephalic fistulae are common vascular access for hemodialysis.
- Some dialysis patients experience symptoms like cold hands, suggesting circulatory issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate blood flow to skin and muscle in relation to radiocephalic fistulae in dialysis patients.
- To correlate circulatory changes with symptoms in dialysis patients.
Main Methods:
- Measured skin and muscle blood flow in normal subjects, asymptomatic dialysis patients, and symptomatic dialysis patients with radiocephalic fistulae.
- Assessed blood flow at rest and during exercise.
Main Results:
- Symptomatic patients showed significantly reduced skin blood flow in the fistula hand.
- Muscle blood flow was reduced at rest and exercise-induced hyperemia was impaired in fistula hands of all dialysis patients.
- Asymptomatic patients had normal skin blood flow compared to controls.
Conclusions:
- Arteriovenous fistulae can lead to reduced peripheral blood flow.
- Hemodynamic changes associated with fistulae may cause symptoms like pain, paresthesia, muscle wasting, and claudication in dialysis patients.