Vascular Access News

A study that compared international vascular access practice patterns showed several regional differences regarding arteriovenous fistula patency and time to becoming catheter-free for patients on hemodialysis.

While researchers of this study found “limited complications” associated with urgent-start peritoneal dialysis, they identified several factors that may increase the risk for a variety of catheter-related complications, including leakage and peritonitis.

Compared with a standard balloon, treatment with a drug-coated balloon led to improved outcomes for patients on hemodialysis who had a dysfunctional arteriovenous fistula.

Using regional anesthesia for patients undergoing arteriovenous fistula creation for dialysis access conferred better patency outcomes at 1 year compared with local anesthesia, according to a recently published study.

Published findings indicated that while patients 77 years or older had lower likelihoods of arteriovenous fistula placement and maturation, those who experienced maturation did not have greater rates of patency loss than younger patients.

A retrospective study conducted in Belgium found neither catheter nor arteriovenous access was associated with survival in patients on hemodialysis.

The FDA has granted breakthrough device designation to Laminate Medical’s tool for the creation of arteriovenous fistulas in patients on hemodialysis, according to a company press release.

Study findings indicated that although most patients who had insurance before developing end-stage renal disease initiate hemodialysis with a central venous catheter, use of fistula for vascular access demonstrated the lowest risk for subsequent bloodstream infections.

The radiocephalic fistula yielded the best post-intervention primary patency rates when compared to brachiocephalic fistula and brachiobasilic fistula, according to study results reported in Kidney Medicine.

Buttonhole cannulation is associated with a higher risk for vascular access-related infection than rope-ladder cannulation in patients on in-center hemodialysis, according to a published study.