Blood Clottiing On Fistula on dialysis patient..what are consequences?

My father has a stent in his left arm with a fistula.....the nurses have continously used clamps, when they should not have, during his dialysis. They have crushed my father's stent numerous times, even when displayed on his chart 'NO CLAMPS". The last time he had surgery to replace the stent on September 22, 2006, the surgeons told me, " That this was the largest blood clot that they have ever seen on a Fistula". My father is 86 years old. A few weeks earlier, prior to the discovery of this blood clot, my father went into cardiac arrest twice....the term used "fibliration". I hope that I have spelled this correctly. I am seeking others out there who have any experience in this matter and what they have done to pursue any action on behalf of their loved ones. I have been told by the doctors in the Dialysis Unit that not using clamps on Stents is a new procedure and that from now on they will adhere to the policy of not using clamps. My father is re-learning how to walk now.HELP

I have a fistula in my left arm, it is an artificial graft. When the needles are removed the graft is pressed very firmly for about ten minutes - not clamped - I have suffered with clots in the past, but main problem now is narrowing of the tube - due to pressure from stopping the blood flow? Its a bit of a difficult one, on the one hand it is necessary to stop the bleeding and yet try not to put too much pressure on the graft itself, or clotting/narrowing will occur. All the best to your Father.

The best thing that YOU can do is to be there to hold his sites. The staff is busy taking care of several patients at once. While they are removing your father's needles, they may also have another patient coming off soon. This makes it hard to sit for 10 minutes holding your father's arm. Report It