AV Fistula Precautions — ORE Part 1 MCQ
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Correct answer: E — Never take blood pressure on the arm with the AV fistula; use the opposite arm
The correct answer is E. UK NHS guidance explicitly states that blood pressure must never be taken on the arm with an AV fistula because the cuff compression interrupts critical blood flow through the fistula, risking thrombosis and permanent loss of vascular access—the patient's lifeline for haemodialysis. Blood pressure should always be measured on the opposite (non-fistula) arm. Option A is dangerous (reverses the rule). Option D ignores the serious risk of fistula failure. Option C is unnecessarily restrictive; measurement on the contralateral arm is safe. Option B incorrectly implies that gentler pressure is protective; any occlusion risks thrombosis regardless of pressure magnitude.
Reference: Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust. Arterio Venous Fistula (AVF) as an access for haemodialysis. Patient Information Sheet. https://www.cuh.nhs.uk/patient-information/arterio-venous-fistula-avf-as-an-access-for-haemodialysis/