Arteriovenous fistula

An arteriovenous (AV) fistula is a direct connection between an artery and a vein, usually created surgically for dialysis in patients with kidney failure. Normally, arteries carry blood away from the heart under high pressure, and veins return blood to the heart under lower pressure. In an AV fistula, this connection allows blood to flow directly from the artery into the vein, causing the vein to become larger and stronger. This enlarged vein can then be used to easily access the bloodstream for dialysis treatments, providing efficient blood flow while reducing damage to the vessels over time.