Which of the following is an advantage of using an AV fistula for vascular access?

Using an arteriovenous (AV) fistula for vascular access offers the significant advantage of utilizing the patient's own blood vessels. This is important because the use of native vessels generally results in better long-term outcomes compared to synthetic materials. AV fistulas are created by surgically connecting an artery to a vein, which causes the vein to enlarge and strengthen over time.

When a patient’s own vessels are used, there is a lower risk of complications such as rejection, thrombosis, and infection associated with foreign materials. Additionally, using the patient’s vessels promotes better blood flow for dialysis, which is crucial for effective treatment. Other options mentioned do not provide the same benefits as they either indicate complications or are not true advantages of an AV fistula. Therefore, the principle of using the patient's own vessels remains a key reason for the preference of AV fistulas in hemodialysis access.