A bleeding arteriovenous fistula can be a nightmare in peripheral haemodialysis units and such patients need to be transferred quickly to a surgical unit for intervention. We describe a simple technique that can temporarily halt bleeding. A gallipot (available in most dressing packs) is placed upright on the bleeding point over folded sterile gauze and then strapped down using Micropore™ tape (3M Health Care Ltd, Loughborough LE11 1EP, UK) as shown in Figure 1. This provides adequate pressure to control bleeding and prevents the fistula from clotting off, thereby allowing for safe patient transfer.
Figure 1.
A simple technique to control a bleeding arteriovenous fistula.