According to Wikipedia…
A Cimino fistula, also Cimino-Brescia fistula and arteriovenous fistula, is a type of vascular access for hemodialysis. It is a surgically created connection between an artery and a vein in the forearm.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cimino_fistula
The procedure was invented by doctors Cimino and Brescia in 1966. Before the Cimino fistula was invented, access was through a Scribner shunt, which consisted of a Teflon tube with a needle at each end. Between treatments, the needles were left in place and the tube allowed blood flow to reduce clotting. But Scribner shunts lasted only a few days to weeks. Frustrated by this limitation, Dr. James Cimino recalled his days as a phlebotomist (blood drawer) at New York City’s Bellevue Hospital in the 1950s when Korean War veterans showed up with fistulas caused by trauma. Cimino recognized that these fistulas did not cause the patients harm and were easy places to get repeated blood samples. He convinced surgeon Kenneth Appel to create some in patients with chronic kidney failure and the result was a complete success. Scribner shunts were quickly replaced with Cimino fistulas, and 40 years later, they are still the most effective, longest-lasting method for long-term access to patients’ blood for dialysis.
June is shaping up to be a busy month at UCSF.
• Monday, June 2, 1 p.m., Fistula consultation with Dr. Charles Eichler
• Wednesday, June 11, 1.45 p.m., Fistula pre-op appointment
• Tuesday, June 17, 6 a.m., Fistula procedure
Since June 2 and June 11 are both morning dialysis days the afternoon UCSF appointments will make for a long day in San Francisco.
Irene does not want to stay overnight at UCSF (standard protocol) following the June 17 procedure. She can avoid staying overnight if she’s the first scheduled procedure of the morning which is why she’s scheduled at 6 a.m. She will be released late that evening barring any complications. She has dialysis early the next morning!!! We plan to spend the previous Monday night lodging in San Francisco.
You’ll recall that this Fistula procedure is necessary to replace the Tesio dialysis port currently in her chest.
Caminando con Fé
Dave
