Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician (CCHT) Practice Exam

The term "arteriovenous fistula" specifically refers to a surgical connection created between an artery and a vein. This connection is primarily used in dialysis for patients with kidney failure, as it provides a reliable and efficient access point for hemodialysis. The fistula allows for increased blood flow, which is necessary for the dialysis machine to effectively filter waste and excess fluids from the patient's blood.

Creating an arteriovenous fistula is advantageous because it tends to have a lower risk of infection and is more durable compared to other types of access devices. This makes it the preferred method for long-term hemodialysis treatment.

Other options describe unrelated concepts: a device used for filtering blood is a dialysis machine, medications pertain to pharmaceutical treatments rather than surgical procedures, and while complications can arise in dialysis, the term "arteriovenous fistula" does not refer to a complication but rather to a therapeutic surgical intervention.