What does "Left upper arm brachiocephalic fistula" mean in a report or doctor's letter? In our medical dictionary, you will find a patient-friendly explanation of the meaning of this medical term.
A "left upper arm brachiocephalic fistula" is a medical term referring to a connection made between a vein and an artery in the upper left arm. This is usually done as a surgical procedure to help patients who need regular dialysis, a treatment for kidney failure. The connection allows the blood to flow from the artery into the vein, which makes the vein larger and stronger so it can be used for dialysis. The term "brachiocephalic" refers to the specific veins and arteries in the arm that are connected.
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