From a technical point of view, the blood flow rate through a fistula needle depends mainly on two parameters:

  • Inner diameter
  • Needle length

The larger the inner-diameter, and the shorter the needle length, the higher the blood flow rates that can be attained under suitable pressure conditions.

In routine dialysis practice, the choice of the canula is determined not only by its dimensions, but rather by the condition of the patient’s fistula. Therefore, it is important to choose the appropriate needle according to the desired blood flow rate and the condition of the fistula in order to reach the optimum balance between patient comfort and dialysis efficiency.