An arteriovenous fistula is a surgical anastomosis of an artery with a vein, bypassing the capillary bed, to allow the faster flow rates needed for hemodialysis. Similarly, an arteriovenous graft serves the same function but utilizes a synthetic tube, not the patient's naive blood vessels, to bridge arterial and venous flow while avoiding tiny capillaries.
An arteriovenous fistula is the joining of your vein and artery to make a safer, faster connection for your dialysis. An arteriovenous graft is similar, but uses a tube that we put in, instead of relying on the vein and artery alone.
