What Causes Severe Bleeding In An A-V Shunt?

Posted on Fri, 27 Apr 2012

Question: Hello! what clinical indications should a nurse know that can contribute to severe bleeding in an A-V shunt?

Answered by Dr. Tulasi Raman.P (1 hour later)

Hi Pacita,

Thanks for your query.

I am not able to fully understand your question.

If you can supply me with further details like the point of view from which the question is asked.
1. You wanna know how can a nurse control A-V shunt bleeding.
2. You wanna what causes severe A-V shunt bleeding

I am explaining it from the lines of what you should do in case of an A-V shunt bleed.

Immediate compression on the bleeding area, maintained by pressure provided by either a thumb or a tight bandage around the bleeding site is necessary. Pressure anywhere else will only serve to increase bleeding from the fistula site.

Sudden bleeding can be life-threatening and must therefore not be neglected.

Hope I have answered your query. If not write back to me with more details so that i can answer you better.

Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar