AV Fistula Surgery

An arteriovenous fistula is an irregular connection between an artery and a vein. Blood normally flows from the arteries to the small blood vessels and then to the veins. Nutrients and oxygen in the blood travel from the capillaries to the tissues of the body. In an arteriovenous fistula, blood flows directly from an artery to a vein, bypassing certain capillaries. When this happens, the tissues under the convoluted capillaries receive less blood.