Improving arteriovenous fistula rate: Effect on hemodialysis quality

Bloodstream infection at hemodialysis facilities in Jeddah: a medical record review

BACKGROUND

Bloodstream infections (BSI) are a major complication of hemodialysis. The risk of infection among hemodialysis patients is usually associated with the dialysis procedure itself, specifically the means of vascular access.

OBJECTIVES

Estimate the rate of BSI and assess factors possibly associated with BSI.

DESIGN

Analytical retrospective medical record review.

SETTING

Hemodialysis unit in a tertiary care center.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Adult patients (18-60 years old) who had hemodialysis as first renal replacement therapy in the 20-month period from January 2014 to August 2016 were included in this study. Demographic and clinical characteristics were used in a multivariate logistic regression to assess factors that might be associated with BSI.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The rate of BSI and associated factors among chronic hemodialysis outpatients.

SAMPLE SIZE AND CHARACTERISTICS

160 outpatients on hemodialysis, median (IQR) age 47.7 (37.0-56.0) years, males (60.6%).

RESULTS

The rate of BSI was 0.4 per 100 patient-months. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that patients who had central venous catheters had the highest risk for BSI (odds ratio: 10.088; 95% CI= 2.595-39.215; P=.001) compared with arteriovenous fistulas. Gram-negative bacteria were isolated in 54.6% of cases, with coagulase-negative Staphylococcus the most frequent isolate (18.2%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterobacteriaceae (15.2%, each).

CONCLUSIONS

The type of vascular access type is the main risk factor associated with BSI in hemodialysis patients. The arteriovenous fistula, which has a lower infection rate compared to the catheter, is the best available option for hemodialysis patients.

LIMITATIONS

Retrospective, single center and relatively small sample size.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

None.

Comparison of Complications of Arteriovenous Fistula with Permanent Catheter in Hemodialysis Patients: A Six-month Follow-up

Background:

Arteriovenous fistula (AVF), permanent catheter (PC), and vascular graft are three vascular access types used for hemodialysis procedure. Due to insufficient reliable information on the comparison between AVF and PC, this study was conducted to compare AVF and PC regarding dialysis adequacy.

Materials and Methods:

This prospective study was carried out from March, 2013 to September, 2013. In this study, 76 hemodialysis patients were enrolled and assigned to two unequal groups of AVF and PC. Before and after the dialysis session, blood samples were taken for laboratory examinations and measurement of urea reduction ratio (URR) and Kt/V. The patients were followed up for six months, and then laboratory examinations were repeated.

Results:

Of the 76 hemodialysis patients, 30 had AVF and others PC. During the 6-month follow-up, 24 patients in PC group but only one patient in AVF group showed infection (P = 0.006), while in each group, three cases of thrombosis were seen (P = 0.58); however, catheter dysfunction was seen in 13 patients of PC group but no patients of AVF group (P = 0.004). There was no difference between the two groups in Kt/V and URR at the beginning of the study; however, after six months, Kt/V and URR were greater in AVF group (P < 0.05).

Conclusions:

In addition to some advantages of AVF over PC, such as lower rate of infection and thrombosis, we also found better dialysis adequacy in AVF group. We recommend that AVF be created in all of patients with chronic kidney disease who are candidates for hemodialysis.

Investigation of the knowledge and attitudes of patients who are undergoing hemodialysis treatment regarding their arteriovenous fistula

Purpose

The major cause of morbidity in hemodialysis patients is arteriovenous fistula deficiency. The patient should have adequate knowledge to ensure arteriovenous fistula patency. Our aim is to investigate the knowledge and attitude of the patients undergoing hemodialysis treatment regarding arteriovenous fistula.

Methods

This study was conducted on 335 patients who met the study criteria. Data collection forms evaluating the “Socio-Demographic and Medical Characteristics” and “Knowledge and Attitudes about arteriovenous fistula” of the patients were developed following a literature review by the investigators.

Results

The rules most known and implemented were “to not measure blood pressure” and “to not draw blood from arms with fistula”, while the least known and implemented were “to use blood vessels on the hands in arms without fistula for intravenous intervention” and “to know which situations cause hypotension”.

Conclusions

Hemodialysis patients with arteriovenous fistulas need to know that developing self-care behavior is a means to reconcile lifestyles with current health status. Accordingly, planned training in self-care should be provided to hemodialysis patients and their families, and nurses should repeat information to patients who demonstrate a lack of knowledge.

The impact of Vascular Access on the Adequacy of Dialysis and the Outcome of the Dialysis Treatment: One Center Experience

INTRODUCTION

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a gradually reduction in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) caused by destruction of a large number of nephrons. Kidney failure is the final stage of CKD with GFR <15ml/min/1.73m(2) or requiring dialysis. Patients must provide vascular access, which is also the "life line" and "Achilles heel" of hemodialysis treatment.

AIM

The purpose of this research is to show the demographic structure of the hemodialysis center in Konjic, and also demonstrate the impact of vascular access to the adequacy and the outcome of dialysis treatment.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 36 patients on hemodialysis in Center in Konjic from September 2010 to December 2014. The method of collecting data is performed through medical records and the quality of dialysis is taken to be Kt/V> 1.2. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software and Student T-test.

RESULTS

The mortality of patients treated by dialysis is 37.8%. The ratio of male and female patients is 55.6% vs. 44.5%, with an average age of 52.91±14.36 years and an average duration of hemodialysis of five years. The highest percentage of patients dialyzed through arterio-venous fistula (AVF) on the forearm (72.2%). In that patients the most common complication is thrombosis with 30.5%, which require recanalization in 11% and replacement in 19.5% of patients. Of the other dialysis patients, 16.7% of patients are dialyzed via a temporary and 11.1% via a permanent catheter (the most common complication in that patients is infection in 83.3% cases) in v.subclavia. Although the AVF is more frequently, experience shows frequent implantation of a permanent catheter in elderly patients due to the less quality of their blood vessels. Although the Kt/V by patients who are dialyzed through temporary catheter is less than 1.2 and by the other two access is greater than 1.2, our results confirm that vascular access does not have an influence on quality of dialysis. Average Kt/V shows that the adequate dialysis dose is delivered in this Center, which means that despite the impact of vascular access in HD quality, other factors also can affect on dialysis treatment, which was noticed by patients and staff.

CONCLUSION

Despite the largest mortality rate in patients with a permanent catheter and least in patients with AVF, the type of vascular access does not affect the outcome of dialysis treatment.