Cannulation

While patient care technicians play a key role in dialysis, there may be a disconnect between their efforts and the recognition they receive, according to researchers.

TORONTO — Use of IV immunoglobulin with or without steroids was associated with reduced mortality among children with myocarditis compared with steroids alone, according to a study presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting.

Delayed extracorporeal membrane oxygenation after hospital admission with cardiogenic shock was associated with increased in-hospital mortality, even among less acutely ill patients, researchers reported.

Patients using hemodialysis reported less pain when listening to music during the cannulation procedure, according to data published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

Skin markings identifying the direction and angle of buttonhole cannulations can make the procedure less painful and anxiety-inducing for patients, according to data published in Kidney Medicine.

The average number of missed cannulations per month decreased from 12 to 5.4 when staff were trained on ultrasound guided cannulation, according to research presented at the American Nephrology Nurses Association National Symposium.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The buttonhole technique for vascular access is safe for home hemodialysis as long as patients are diligent about skin preparation and cannulation, clinicians from Fresenius Medical Care reported in a poster presentation.

Published research suggests access-related Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia rates were nearly seven-times higher for patients on hemodialysis who were cannulated using the buttonhole needling technique compared with stepladder/area puncture.