arteriovenous (ar-TEER-ee-oh-VEE-nus) (AV) fistula (FIST-yoo-luh)

Surgical connection of an artery directly to a vein, usually in the forearm, created in patients who will need hemodialysis (see dialysis). The AV fistula causes the vein to grow thicker, allowing the repeated needle insertions required for hemodialysis.



Context: Kidney Diseases