Your dialysis access is your lifeline. This practical, patient-friendly workbook helps you understand, protect, and monitor your dialysis access every day.
 
The Dialysis Access Workbook explains the four major types of dialysis access: AV fistula, AV graft, hemodialysis catheter, and peritoneal dialysis catheter. It walks patients through how each access works, what problems to watch for, how to reduce infection risk, and when to call the dialysis team urgently. The workbook includes plain-language education, visuals, checklists, daily care reminders, red-flag warning signs, and personal tracker pages to help patients stay organized between treatments and clinic visits. 
 
Created by Andrew Kowalski, MD, MPH, FASN, this workbook is designed for patients on dialysis, patients preparing for dialysis, caregivers, and anyone trying to better understand dialysis access options.
 
Inside the workbook, you’ll learn about:
AV fistulas and how to check for a thrill
AV grafts and early signs of narrowing or clotting
Hemodialysis catheters and infection prevention
Peritoneal dialysis catheters and peritonitis warning signs
Daily care routines that protect access
Red flags that should be reported right away
Common access procedures such as angioplasty, thrombectomy, catheter exchange, and PD catheter revision
How to build your own access plan and emergency contact list
 
Perfect for:
Patients preparing for dialysis access surgery
People currently using a fistula, graft, catheter, or PD catheter
Caregivers helping a loved one with dialysis
Dialysis patients who want to feel more confident and prepared
Clinics looking for simple patient education tools
 
Why this workbook matters:
Many dialysis access problems start as small changes: weaker vibration, prolonged bleeding, swelling, drainage, cloudy PD fluid, fever, chills, or catheter flow issues. This workbook helps patients recognize those changes early, ask better questions, and work more closely with their dialysis team before small problems become urgent complications.
 
Digital download. Educational use only. This workbook does not replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from your nephrologist, surgeon, dialysis nurse, or healthcare team.