Which two assessments are essential for determining good blood flow through an internal access?

The assessment of bruit and thrill is essential for determining good blood flow through an internal access, such as an arteriovenous (AV) fistula or graft used for dialysis. A bruit is a whooshing sound heard over the access site that indicates blood flow; it is a result of the turbulent blood flow in the vessel. A thrill is a palpable vibration or buzzing sensation felt when assessing the access site, signifying that blood is flowing adequately.

Both of these assessments provide crucial information regarding the patency of the vascular access. If either the bruit or thrill is absent, it could indicate a problem with blood flow, such as a clot or narrowing of the vessel, which requires further investigation.

Other assessments listed, such as blood pressure, oxygen level, pulse, respiration, temperature, and capillary refill, are important for overall patient assessment but are not specific indicators of the functionality of an internal access site. They do not provide direct information about the blood flow specific to an AV fistula or graft. Thus, focusing on the presence of bruit and thrill is the most relevant for ensuring that an external vascular access is functioning properly.