The effect of the buttonhole method vs. the traditional method of AV fistula cannulation on hemostasis, needle stick pain, pre-needle stick anxiety, and presence of aneurysms in ambulatory patients on hemodialysis.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of the buttonhole method to the traditional method of cannulation on time to hemostasis, needle stick pain, pre-needle stick anxiety, and aneurysm size. Forty-five participants from two naturally occurring groups were accessed at four monthly intervals from a chronic dialysis unit yielding 170 units of data. Results supported the buttonhole method of cannulation as advantageous as opposed to the traditional method of AV fistula cannulation.