Step 8: The One-Minute Access Check

Step 8: Taking Care of My Lifeline for a Lifetime

How do I check my access to make sure it is working like it should?

To make sure your access keeps working well, you should do a daily one minute access check to save your lifeline for a lifetime. Ask your dialysis care team to teach you how to do this. If you are already doing your dialysis access checks, keep up the good work!

What will happen if I have a problem with my access?

It is important to make sure your lifeline for a lifetime keeps working as it should. Sometimes there will be problems with your access and you may have to go for tests. If the tests show a problem that can be fixed, it might be fixed on that day. Other problems might need to be fixed with surgery.

In a new fistula or graft, some problems may come up when you are waiting for it to grow or heal others may happen when you start using it. If there is a problem, the dialysis care team will send you to the surgeon, a kidney doctor who is an access expert, or an x-ray doctor who knows how to work on accesses.

If your fistula or graft has been in for a while, you and your care team may find a problem when you do the one minute access check. If that happens, they will send you to a surgeon, a kidney doctor who is an access expert, or an x-ray doctor who knows how to work on accesses. They will check your access to find the problem. Again, many problems can be fixed on that day.

Doing your daily one minute access checks will help keep your lifeline for a lifetime healthy and working well.