Vascular Surgery

Dialysis Patient Needing Arm Surgery 04/22/2011

Question:

My mother is a hemodialysis patient and has an AV fistula in her lower arm near her wrist. She also has severe carpel tunnel in both of her wrists.

She`s scheduled for carpel tunnel release surgery in a few days in her other wrist which is expected to stop the pain. However, can the same surgery be performed on her `access` arm without damaging the fistula to get the other one?

I`ve spoken to her nephrologist, the orthopedic surgeon, etc. and no one seems to give me an answer as to if her `access` arm can be safely treated. Since a vascular surgeon created her fistula about 9 years ago I`m hoping maybe someone in this profession can give me some insight.

Any information is greatly appreciated.

Answer:

I don't do carpal tunnel surgery, but to my knowledge, this should not affect the dialysis access unless a tourniquet is used which would occlude the fistula.

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Response by:

Jean E Starr, MD Clinical Associate Professor of Vascular Surgery College of Medicine The Ohio State University