What the risks are:

The immediate risks include:

• A small bubble of air in the blood that travels to a blood vessel in another part of the body (air embolism)
• Bleeding from the access site
• Cramps
• Dialyzer reaction
• Electrolyte imbalance
• Infection
• Irregular heartbeat or ischemia
• Low blood pressure (hypotension)
• Nausea and vomiting

Long-term risks include:

• Autonomic neuropathy
• Blood loss leading to iron deficiency
• Cardiovascular disease
• Dialysis-associated amyloidosis
• Dialysis dementia

Special considerations:

Take the following precautions if you are using an AVF or AVG:

• Do not allow anyone to take a blood pressure reading on an arm with the access.
• Do not use creams or lotions over the access site.
• Do not wear tight clothing around the access site.
• Observe the access site after dialysis, watching for swelling, infection, or bleeding.
• Routinely check the access site for the "thrill," indicating that the AV site is still functioning. (If the thrill disappears, call your health care provider immediately.)
• When you sleep, avoid placing pressure on an arm with the access (if the graft or fistula clots, you may need a new one).

• Avoid physical activity that might dislodge the access, which could result in excessive bleeding and air entering the circulatory system. (If this happens, call 911 and get immediate medical attention.)
• Call your health care provider immediately if you have a fever or other sign of infection.
• If the color in the tubes changes and becomes a dark red, call your health care provider immediately. (The blood may be clotting.)

If you perform peritoneal dialysis at home:

• Report any fever immediately.
• Report any pain in your abdomen immediately.
• Report any cloudiness or change in fluid color.

Do not miss or skip any dialysis sessions.