# Fistula insertion **URL:** \ **Category:** PD For Patients\ **Created:** [May 11, 2006, 12:25pm UTC](https://forums.homedialysis.org/t/fistula-insertion/824 "2006-05-11T12:25:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![system](https://d16rlmixcfjfyh.cloudfront.net/original/1X/5d85dacb7e76ee0f7b162785afa5f129bc0805ad.png) [@system](https://forums.homedialysis.org/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 12:25pm UTC](https://forums.homedialysis.org/t/fistula-insertion/824/1 "2006-05-11T12:25:42Z")
I have been on PD for almost 2 years and am very satisfied with this method. My nephrologist now wants me to have a fistula in place just incase I need to do Hemo at some future time. Is this the norm for most PD patients? ---
**Author:** ![Beth\_Witten\_MSW](https://forumcdn.homedialysis.org/user_avatar/forums.homedialysis.org/beth_witten_msw/32/541_2.png) [@Beth\_Witten\_MSW](https://forums.homedialysis.org/u/Beth_Witten_MSW)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 10:23pm UTC](https://forums.homedialysis.org/t/fistula-insertion/824/2 "2006-05-11T22:23:33Z")
There’s a big push in government and in kidney community to promote the use of fistulas in all patients for hemodialysis and in case hemodialysis is ever needed. A fistula is considered the best type of vascular (blood) access because of its lower risk of infection and clotting. [http://www.cms.hhs.gov/ESRDQualityImproveInit/04\_FistulaFirstBreakthrough.asp](http://www.cms.hhs.gov/ESRDQualityImproveInit/04_FistulaFirstBreakthrough.asp) I’d ask your your doctor or nurse… – Why do I need a fistula how if I’m on PD? – Is there a problem with my PD? If not, can’t I get a fistula later if there is a problem rather than now? – What is fistula surgery like? – Where would I have it and who will do it? – How long would I need to be in the hospital? – What will I feel like after surgery? – What limitations will I have after surgery? – How much will it cost and what will my insurance pay? – Anything else you think of… ---
**Author:** ![amba\_79](https://forumcdn.homedialysis.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/8e8cbc/32.png) [@amba\_79](https://forums.homedialysis.org/u/amba_79)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2006, 9:21pm UTC](https://forums.homedialysis.org/t/fistula-insertion/824/3 "2006-05-21T21:21:16Z")
If your PD is going fine and you dont want a fistula well thats up to you. I was on PD for 18 months and no one said anything to me about getting a fistula. Personally, I wouldnt. I would only do it if PD was starting to fail. Fistulas arent always successful. What if they created a fistula, whilst you were having success with PD, and the fistula stops working. There, you have a ruined potential future access site for no reason. Im no expert though, I would be asking your doc more about it.