8 research outputs found
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Superficialization of autologous vascular access: an alternative to the use of vascular prostheses and permanent catheters
Introduction: We review our experience with autologous veins Superficialization (Spf), to establish the actual possibilities of this kind of vascular access in our area. Methods: Between January/2001 and January/2008, Spf was performed in 48 patients. Mean follow-up time was 18.8 (0.2-75.7) months. Primary failure rate was recorded; primary and secondary permeability were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method; and its possible associations with several variables were analyzed. Results: the maturity rate was 97,9%; and the rate of primary failure 2,0%. After Spf, mean time of primary and secondary permeability were 65 months and 67months, respectively. Four vascular thrombosis were observed. None of the presurgery variables analyzed (age; sex; diabetes mellitus; ipsilateral central catheter; the number of previous VA attempts; and obesity; were significantly associated with maturity rate, primary or secondary permeabilities. Conclusion: the Spf can be a good option alternative to the use of prosthetic grafts or permanent central vascular catheters
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Use of the aluminum phosphate-binders in hemodialysis in the ultrapure water era
INTRODUCTIONAluminium binder has been ill-advised, but his use remain applicable in the clinique practice in very seleccionated and particular patients. The repercussion of prolonged treatment with low doses of aluminium phosphate-binders in haemodialysis was studied. The haemodialysis unit had a double osmosis inverse and the aluminium levels in haemodialysis liquid was less than 2 micrograms/liter.METHODS41 patients of the 295 on haemodialysis received aluminium phosphate-binders since the 2005 January to the 2007 November. The mean time of treatment was 17.8 months, and the doses was 3.9 tablets day (mean of 463 grams in the studied period). The association of low doses of aluminium phosphate-binders permitted a better control of phosphorus (6.8 to 4.8 mg/dl; p<0.0001), with a reduction of the others phosphate-binders: sevelamer (10.4 a 8 tablets/day; p<0.0001) and calcium phosphate-binders (4.6 to 3.1 tablets/day; p<0.0001). The serum aluminium increased after the aluminium treatment (6.8 to 13.8 mcg/l; p<0.0001), and no toxicity indirect signs were observed on CMV, haemoglobin, none PTH. Five patients (12.1%) reached aluminium serum levels higher 20 mcg/l, and none reached the 40 mcg/l.CONCLUSIONSThe aluminium phosphate-binders were effective, economical and, now, with an apparent better security profile than in a previous time, but it is very important to be careful with this use and to follow a vigilance strict on patients and haemodialysis liquid
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Management of calcific uremic arteriolopathy (calciphylaxis) with a combination of treatments, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy
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Can we improve our results in hemodialysis? Setting quality objectives, feedback, and benchmarking
To diminish inter centres variability in applied medical treatments, as well as in the results obtained with them, is one of the main challenges that Nephrology faces now a days. The systematic and planned use of Clinical Performance Measures (CPMs), Feedback and Benchmarking are tools that can help clinicians to reach such an objective. In this study we evaluate the consequences of applying those techniques in the results obtained in three haemodialysis units.
we analyzed the results obtained in 311 patients dialyzed in the three units during the period 2006-2007. Established and evaluated objectives were as follows: 1.- To increase the percentage of patients with a serum calcium below 9,5 mg/dl over 70%; 2.- To increase the percentage of patients with a serum phosphorus under 5,5 mg/dl over 80%; 3.- To increase the percentage of patients with a serum PTH in between 150-300 pg/ml over 40%; 4.- To diminish the percentage of patients with a serum ferritine below 100 ng/ml under 10%, in one of the units that at the beginning of the study was not accomplishing that objective. Every three months each unit received their own results as well as the results of the two other units.
the percentage of patients with serum calcium below 9,5 mg/dl increased significantly in the three units (54,6%, 56,1% and 55,6% at the beginning; 87,7%, 82.9% and 75,1% at the end of the study, respectively; p<0,001). The same was observed for the percentage of patients with a serum phosphorus below 5,5 mg/dl (77,9%, 73,6% and 66,0% at the beginning; 81,7%, 78,0% and 85.9% at the end, respectively; p: not significant), and for the percentage of patients with PTH between 150-300 pg/ml (32,9%, 43,1% and 26,4% versus 47,5%, 41,4% and 39.5%, respectively; p: not significant). The percentage of patients with a serum ferritin below 100 ng/ml in unit B diminished from 30% to 5,3% (p<0,001), reaching results similar the the two other units. Mean erythropoietin (EPO) consumption during the year 2005 was 145,5+/-13,2 U/kg/week in unit A; 226,2+/-39,8 U/kg/week in unit B, and 175,5+/-13,9 U/kg/week in unit C. At the end of year 2007, mean EPO consumption was significantly lower in unit B (144,2+/-15 U/kg/week), and similar to the other two units (140+/-14,2 in unit A and 135,1+/-13,8 in unit C).
The results of this study permit to conclude that the use of QPM's and quality targets, combined with feedback and benchmarking, allows for the improvement of clinical results. Each centre should establish their own objectives, independently of the defined quality standards, so as to reach such standards or even to improve them. In this study, the three units showed a general improvement in their results, tending towards similar outcomes for the same clinical processes
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Operation to remove tunnelled venous catheters in a dialysis unit. Is it possible to reverse the trend in their growing use?
Introduction In an attempt to reduce unnecessary central venous catheters (CVC) dependence in prevalent population, a "CVC removal" programme was initiated in our unit. The objective was to diminish the number of CVC and to analyze the causes of their insertion and maintenance. On 09/01/07, 38 out of 173 prevalent patients on hemodialysis. Methods were CVC dependant (21.9%): 16 incident patients (42,1%) and 22 (57,8%) prevalent patients. All of them were re-evaluated for permanent vascular access utilization, included those previously rejected for surgery. Physical, psychical and vascular aspects regarding each patient were taken into consideration. The following variables were age, Body mass index, time on hemodialysis, Charlson analyzed comorbidity index, DM or vascular comorbidities and number of vascular accesses created prior to CVC placement. In those patients in whom AVF creation was feasible, the following were registered after 18 months of 1.Primary failure rate. 2. Related complications. 3. up follow Percentage of usable AVF or AVG. 4. Percentage of removed CVC. 5. Mortality and hospitalization. The decision of no realization of a new vascular access and? Results maintenance of TVC was performed in 21 patients (55.2%). In 9 of them was decision of the nephrologists and the family. In 11 patients was decision of vascular surgeon due to vascular bed exhaustion. A permanent VA was achieved in 17 patients (44.7%), 50% of them was incident patients and 45% prevalent patients. The primary failure rate was 0%. The TVC was withdrawn in 11/17 (64.7%). Only 4 patients remain without TVC after 18 months of follow-up: 5 patients died (4 with a AVF functioning and 1 VA closure due to steal syndrome) and in 8 patients was mandatory to reintroduce the TVC again. Immediate complications after the surgery were: 1 severe haematoma, 2 infections and 2 severe sequestrations. 3 patients required hospital admission following complications directly related to VA. Mean time of free of TVC was 5.2 months (range: 0.7- 14.3 months). The mortality was 29,4% (5/17) in the group of patients with a new VA and 9,5% (2/21) in the other group(RR 3,19; IC 95%: 0,68-13,98; p: 0,11). No significant differences were observed between patients who transitioned to a permanent vascular access and those who remained TVC dependant in regards to age, gender, BMI, time on dialysis, DM, comorbidity or number of previous VA, Transition from CVC use to hospitalizations or mortality. Conclusions permanent vascular access is possible in prevalent patients in dialysis. Improvement was achieved by a modest amount, and after a prolonged process with gravel complications, some of which proved severe. Need for CVC dependence is confirmed in a high percentage of prevalent patients on dialysis. Comorbidity might have influenced the results. The quality standard should be adequate to reality of current population on hemodialysis
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Changes in vascular access in a dialysis unit in recent years: planning problems, change in preferences, or demographic change?
Background: Evidence on the reasons for the general and discouraging overutilization of catheters in DOPPS countries is lacking. Methods: We analysed the changes in distribution of the different types of vascular access in all 398 patients ongoing hemodialysis at our unit, from january 2000 until december 2005, as well as patients' characteristics. Secondly, risk factors associated with the use of permanent catheters were evaluated in all 95 patients who used that kind of vascular access from january 1997 until april 2006.
Results: The percentage of fistulas in prevalent patients diminished from year 2000 until year 2005 (from 95% to 77.9%); concurrently there was an increase in the use of permanent catheters (from 4.2% to 21.5%). The percentage of incident patients having a usable fistula or graft at the beginning of hemodialysis diminished progressively (83.4% in 2000; 69.3% in 2005), and there was a significant increase in the percentage of incident patients using a permanent catheter (from 0 to 23%). Coincidentally there was a change in patients characteristics: increasing age (71.3 vs 60.5 years); greater diabetes percentage (7.1% vs 18.5%) and less time on dialysis (93.2 vs 37 months; p < 0.03). Causes of permanent catheter insertion varied, exhaustion of all other arteriovenous options being the most frequent in the first period of the study and the presence of an unsuitable vascular anatomy in the second.
Conclusions: Despite our policy favoring arteriovenous angioaccess, our results with regards to vascular access worsened in both prevalent and incident patients, coinciding with a change in patients' characteristics. We believe that reversing this trend may become more complicated as the population on dialysis grows older and becomes more prone to diabetes
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Allergy to latex and repeated vascular access thrombosis in haemodialysis
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Is Cinacalcet a cost-effective treatment in severe secondary hyperparathyroidism in patients on hemodialysis?
BACKGROUNDA previous study using cinacalcet, as compared to vitamin D alone, showed a better reduction response of PTH levels and a significant diminution of secondary effects. The objective of present study was to evaluate the additional cost of adding cinacalcet to the standard treatment of patients with severe secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) taking into account the treatment goals achieved.METHODS12 month prospective study of 23 patients with severe SHPT. Two treatment regimens were considered: standard treatment (m 0) and standard treatment plus cinacalcet (m 12). Four consequences of inadequate control of SHPT were registered: parathiroid hormone (PTH), Calcium (Ca), Phosphorus (P) and the Ca x P product serum levels. Treatment effectiveness was measured as percentage of patients who achieved treatment goal according to each indicator: PTH 800 pgr/mL with half of costs than standard treatment (651.35 euros vs 1363.68 euros). It was not possible to calculate the cost for PTH indicator since at the study onset, there was no patient who achieved a level between 150 and 300 pg/mL. Cinacalcet allowed reaching treatment goals in Calcium, Phosphorus and Ca x P product in a more cost-effective way (2164.2 euros vs 2684.8 euros).CONCLUSIONSAlthough Cinacalcet is expensive,p atients treated with Cinacalcet showed a minor cost per patient who achieved treatment goal than patients without Cinacalcet. The ability of cinacalcet to reduce PTH secretion, along with the reductions in the serum Ca, P, and Ca x P product, provides an alternative to the traditional treatment paradigm, and should be a welcomed addition in the management of SHPT