At present, the whole lifecycle management of vascular access for hemodialysis in China is still in its early stages. Faced with a large group of chronic kidney disease patients, hospitals at all levels lack systematic and continuous nursing management models. To address the issue of lacking continuous and effective nursing management of vascular access for dialysis during the period from hospitalization for autologous arteriovenous fistula surgery to outpatient maintenance hemodialysis treatment, this article introduces the background, specific implementation methods, and preliminary results of the new model of integrated medical and nursing follow-up management of vascular access for patients with hemodialysis during hospitalization and outpatient period constructed by the Wenjiang Hemodialysis Center of West China Hospital, Sichuan University. The purpose is to explore a new model for continuous and effective management of vascular access for hemodialysis patients.
ObjectiveTo explore the role of arteriovenous axillary loop graft (AVALG) on chest for establishing hemodialysis access in patients with chronic renal failure. MethodsA retrospective analysis was made on the clinical data of 12 patients with chronic renal failure who underwent an AVALG on chest for hemodialysis access between December 2010 and May 2014. There were 2 males and 10 females with an average age of 65.25 years (range, 46-75 years). The main causes were chronic glomerulonephritis in 6 cases, diabetic nephropathy in 4 cases, and both kidney resection because of urinary tract tumors in 2 cases. The disease duration was 2-12 years (mean, 6 years). The 12 patients all underwent 5-14 times (mean, 7 times) failed prior vascular accesses [arteriovenous fistula (AVF）and arteriovenous graft (AVG)] leading to exhaustion of venous access sites on the upper extremities. ResultsThe AVALG on chest were functionally useful for hemodialysis access, 2-3 times per week, and the blood flow was 250-350 mL/minute; the average time for the first dialysis was 48 days (range, 42-93 days). All patients were followed up 12-54 months (mean, 20.92 months). There was no death during perioperative period. The primary patency rates at 6 and 12 months were 91.7% and 83.3% respectively, and the secondary patency rates at 6 and 12 months were both 100%. After operation, infection (1 case), thrombosis (2 cases), bleeding (2 cases), and swollen (1 case) occurred, which were all cured after corresponding treatment. ConclusionAVALG on chest is a supplementary option for chronic renal failure patients with inadequate upper extremity venous access sites after repeat occlusion.
Objective To investigate the clinical effect and safety of balloon angioplasty (BAP) for patients with venous hypertension associated with autogenous arteriovenous fistula (AVF). Methods Thirty-three patients with venous hypertension associated with AVF were hospitalized between August 2012 and August 2014 in the Department of Nephrology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University. All of the patients received BAP therapy. The clinical characteristics and therapeutic effects were comparatively summarized before and after operation. Results Venous hypertension in all the 33 patients was caused by central venous stenosis or occlusion. Among them, there were 13 cases of stenosis on the site where the left innominate vein crossed the aorta, 10 cases of stenosis at the junction of the left innominate vein and superior vena cava, 4 cases of stenosis at the junction of the left subclavian vein and the innominate vein, 3 cases of right innominate vein stenosis, and 3 cases of innominate vein occlusion. The lesions were most common in the innominate vein. Innominate vein stenosis or occlusion occurred in 19 cases (57.6%), and stenosis at the junction of innominate vein and the superior vena cava or subclavian vein occurred in 14 cases (42.4%). Of the 33 patients, one patient with complete occlusion of the innominate vein did not receive BAP treatment because guide wire could not pass through the occlusion site. The other 32 patients underwent BAP treatment, among whom 30 (93.8%) were successful, and 2 (6.2%) failed. No obvious complications occurred. One day after BAP treatment, patients’ symptoms were significantly relieved. One to seven days later, swelling of the hands, pain, and other symptoms were relieved. In the 30 patients who underwent the treatment successfully, 29 were followed up for 3 to 24 months. Among them, 21 (72.4%) maintained clinical remission and the AVFs were functional, 6 patients (20.7%) got a restenosis later, and 2 patients died. Conclusions BAP is effective and safe for venous hypertension associated with AVF. However, the follow-up of patients has displayed the possible risk of restenosis in long-term outcomes.
ObjectiveTo explore the role of chest wall arteriovenous graft (CWAVG) for establishing hemodialysis access in patients with end-stage renal disease.MethodsA retrospective analysis was made on the clinical data of 12 patients with end-stage renal disease who underwent CWAVG for establishing hemodialysis access between January 2014 and June 2015. There were 3 males and 9 females with an average age of 63.6 years (range, 54-82 years). The renal disease causes were chronic glomerulonephritis in 2 cases, hypertensive renal damage in 4 cases, diabetic nephropathy in 1 case, both kidney resection because of urinary tract tumors in 3 cases, and causes unknown in 2 cases. Hemodialysis time ranged from 1 to 144 months, with an average of 38.4 months. The 12 patients all underwent 1-14 times (mean, 4.2 times) anterior pathway failure in CWAVG, all of which were caused by repeated occlusion of dialysis pathway or poor vascular condition of upper extremity, resulting in the exhaustion of vascular pathway in upper extremity.ResultsAll patients were followed up 30-48 months (mean, 35.4 months). Two patients died, including 1 case of digestive tract hemorrhage, 1 case of heart failure. The other 10 CWAVGs were functionally useful for hemodialysis access about 6 weeks after operations. The primary patency rates at 6, 12, 18, 24, and 30 months were 83.3%, 75.0%, 33.3%, 33.3%, and 16.7%, respectively, and the cumulative patency rates at 6, 12, 18, 24, and 30 months were 83.3%, 75.0%, 50.0%, 33.3%, and 16.7%, respectively. Among 8 cases of CWAVG dysfunction, 6 cases had thrombosis, 1 case had seroma, and 1 case had vertebral artery stealing. Among them, 4 patients underwent hemodialysis using tunneled-cuffed catheter, 3 patients using fistula or graft on other limbs, and 1 patient was not treated with hemodialysis.ConclusionAlthough the long-term patency rate of CWAVG is yet to be further increased by improvement of treatment strategies, but it is still a supplementary option for end-stage renal disease patients with inadequate upper extremity venous access sites.