After a fistula thrombectomy
Fistula thrombectomy
A fistula thrombectomy is a procedure to remove a blood clot (thrombus) from inside a fistula.
A fistula is when an artery and vein are joined together to make a blood vessel larger and stronger. This makes it easier for us to transfer your blood into a machine and back again if you have dialysis.
What happens after the procedure
After your fistula thrombectomy procedure, we take you to a recovery area. Your ward nurse then takes you back to the renal day unit (Patience ward) at Guy's Hospital. Here, we:
- monitor you closely
- allow you to see your family or friends
- check your pulse, blood pressure and the oxygen level in your blood regularly
- explain when you can eat and drink again
You usually need to stay in hospital for 4 hours after the procedure. This is to make sure that there is no bleeding. One of the dialysis nurses removes your stitch on the ward. Some people can then go home.
If you had the procedure as a day patient, the nurse looking after you will explain:
- when you can get up and move around
- when you can go home
You need a responsible adult to take you home by car or taxi. We do not recommend using public transport.
Using your fistula
Your fistula should be ready to use for dialysis treatment immediately after the procedure. The IR doctor gives you more information about this.
When you go home
Here is some guidance if you leave hospital after your fistula thrombectomy procedure:
Do
- rest for the remainder of the day and possibly for the next day, depending on how you recover
- eat and drink as usual
- have a shower or bath as usual on the next day
- take your usual painkillers, as prescribed or instructed on the packet, if you are in any pain (although the procedure is not usually uncomfortable afterwards)
- keep taking any regular medicines, as your doctor has prescribed
Don't
- do not start metformin again until 2 days after the procedure if you take this medicine
If you have any concerning symptoms
Contact the interventional radiology (IR) department or go to A&E now if you:
- have a lot of bleeding at the place where we put in the small plastic tube called a sheath (the puncture site)
- have bruising and swelling that are getting worse around the fistula
- have a lot of pain at the puncture site that does not improve after taking simple painkillers
- have pins and needles (a tingling feeling) or weakness in your arm with the fistula
- have a high temperature (fever) or chills, or pus or other discharge (leaking fluid) at the puncture site (these could be signs that you are getting an infection)
- cannot feel a vibration (thrill or buzz) in your arm with the fistula
Resource number: 4650/VER2
Last reviewed: March 2024
Next review due: March 2027
A list of sources is available on request.
