Vascular Access News

NN&I published a series of reports prepared by the CMOs who attended a conference in Chicago about improving quality. During the meeting, specific topics were assigned and groups were organized to address subjects such as nutrition, sodium and volume, initiation of dialysis, vascular access, and CKD education. These reports summarize the views of each group on how to improve patient outcomes.

Intradialytic hypotension is defined as a decrease in systolic blood pressure by ≥ 20 mm Hg or a decrease in mean arterial pressure by 10 mm Hg, and is associated with symptoms that include abdominal discomfort, yawning, sighing, nausea, vomiting, muscle cramps, restlessness, dizziness or fainting, and anxiety.

A protocol for urgent-start peritoneal dialysis results in less blood stream infections and appears to reduce mortality when compared to urgent-start hemodialysis, according to research presented at the National Kidney Foundation’s 2015 Spring Clinical Meetings in Dallas.

New data show that survival and life expectancies are increasing among dialysis patients. These findings were presented at the National Kidney Foundation’s 2015 Spring Clinical Meetings held this week in Dallas.

Austin, Texas-based TVA Medical Inc. released positive results from a clinical study evaluating the everlinQ System for hemodialysis without the use of traditional open surgery. The clinical results of TVA Medical’s everlinQ System were published online in the April 2015 issue of Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology.

There is no doubt that nephrology practice in the United States has been forever transformed by changes in the last decade. Doctors and practice managers have had to adapt to regulatory and legislative changes, market shifts and technological developments. We are constantly adjusting our business models in order to remain in compliance with government mandates and meet the changing needs of our business partners, all while continuing to provide low cost, high quality patient care.

The patient’s vascular access is often referred to as their “lifeline,” and without it, the life- sustaining treatment of hemodialysis would not be possible. To maintain the access, patency depends on diagnostic accuracy and active and timely interventions. Complications related to the vascular access are the leading cause of hospitalization for the hemodialysis patient. Preventing the development of complications can reduce morbidity, improve quality of life, and reduce the costs of health care in the dialysis population.

The End Stage Renal Disease National Coordinating Center (ESRD NCC) has made new additions to the vascular access materials and Lifeline for a Lifetime toolkit for dialysis patients and professionals. The tools are available for download on the ESRD NCC website. These tools were developed by the Fistula First Catheter Last (FFCL) Workgroup Coalition, which is comprised of leaders from CMS, ESRD networks, and the renal community at large, as part of its ongoing efforts to increase the use of AV fistulas and decrease the use of tunneled dialysis catheters.

The North American Research Consortium (NARC), an arm of the North American chapter of the International Society of Peritoneal Dialysis, is reviewing results from a 29-question survey about catheter insertion practices in the U.S. and Canada.

Three years ago, the chief medical officers from 13 dialysis providers met to share common issues about patient outcomes, both successes and area for improvement. A commitment to share clinical and facility level approaches to issues, protocols and policies, even data, grew out of this initial meeting. Since that time there have been two national meetings attended by the CMOs and their operational teams and enormous collaboration to improve patient satisfaction and quality of dialysis. With almost monthly calls, including separate calls by operations teams, these CMOs are making strides to enhance the experience of the patient undergoing dialytic therapy.