What I need to know about my child's fistula or graft
Your child's AV fistula will usually take six to eight weeks to mature before it can be used for dialysis. After the staples are removed, roughly two weeks after the surgery, have your child strengthen their fistula by squeezing and releasing a rubber ball 10 times. Your child should do this three to four times a day. It is not necessary for your child to exercise their AV graft because the graft is already the correct size when it is placed in the arm. Two weeks after the surgery, or as soon as the swelling is gone, your child's AV graft can be used for dialysis.