Vascular access in elderly patients with end-stage renal disease

During the last few years, the number of elderly patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) has been increasing worldwide. Establishment of a viable vascular access is of primary importance in these patients. This review discusses the advantages and disadvantages of the available vascular access modalities [namely arteriovenous (AV) fistulae, AV grafts, and central venous catheters (CVCs)] in elderly ESRD patients. AV fistulae seem to be superior when compared with other vascular access alternatives with respect to patency, morbidity and mortality rates. On the other hand, due to the age-related advanced atherosclerosis in the elderly, higher failure rates for AV fistulae in this age group have been described. Two controversial issues, namely the higher infection and thrombosis rates in elderly ESRD patients, are also discussed. Current evidence suggests that old age should not comprise a drawback when selecting the appropriate vascular access modality (AV fistula, AV graft or CVC) for the performance of hemodialysis. The possible vascular access options in elderly ESRD patients should not be different from younger individuals.     

老年终末期肾病患者的透析方式选择

随着人口老龄化加剧,在全球范围内需要接受肾脏替代治疗的老年终末期肾脏病(ESRD)患者人数日益增加。老年ESRD患者由于年龄老化、生理机能下降、合并症多、自我维护能力差、预期生存时间短等特点给透析治疗亦带来了诸多困难。老年ESRD患者在透析的治疗时机、透析方式的选择上均具有其特殊性,需要根据患者原发病因、评估透析治疗可能带来的并发症、所在地医疗卫生条件等制定个体化的治疗方案。除了医疗技术因素外,还需综合考虑如患者预期寿命、对生活质量的期望以及对患者家庭的影响等其他非医疗因素。     

Preventive care for patients with end-stage kidney disease: crossroads between nephrology and primary care

Patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (HD) might expect their nephrologists to coordinate all their healthcare needs. We performed a survey among adult patients with ESKD undergoing HD in two outpatient dialysis centers at the University of Florida to identify differences in characteristics between patients with and without primary care providers (PCP) and to explore the association of PCP utilization with adherence to preventive health measures. Of the 132 participants, 89.4% reported having a PCP. This group was more likely to be female, older, and with higher education level. Having a PCP was associated with influenza, pneumococcal, and tetanus/Tdap vaccinations as well as screening for tuberculosis, depression, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. The PCP group had statistically significant higher rates of influenza immunization (89.8% vs 71.4%, P = .04) as well as screening for hypertension (93.2% vs 64.3%, P = .04) and depression (78.8% vs 42.9%, P = .004), compared to the group without PCP, in the multivariable analysis. Having a PCP is associated with higher rates of influenza vaccination and screening for depression and hypertension. These findings could have important implications as far as identifying patients with ESKD at risk for fragmented care and potential gaps in optimal preventive care.     

Relationship of hemodialysis access to finger gangrene in patients with end-stage renal disease

OBJECTIVE: We report a comprehensive review of our patients on hemodialysis with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) with finger gangrene to determine etiology, natural history, and prognosis of this condition. METHODS: Patients with ESRD with finger gangrene were identified from our computerized vascular registry. Presence of an ipsilateral arteriovenous fistula was determined, and patients were compared with a group of patients with ESRD without finger gangrene. Management consisted of arteriography, selective arteriovenous fistula management, and finger amputation. A multivariate analysis to determine risk factors associated with finger gangrene was performed. Repeat finger amputation and survival rates were determined with life-table analysis. RESULTS: Twenty-three patients (mean age at start of dialysis, 53 years) with finger gangrene were identified, with 48% (n = 11) having a functional ipsilateral arteriovenous fistula. Arteriography was consistent with diffuse atherosclerosis involving the radial, ulnar, palmar, and digital arteries precluding attempts at distal arterial bypass. Repeat finger amputations were necessitated in 52% of patients (n = 12), and bilateral finger gangrene developed in 61% of patients (n = 14). Starting dialysis at age less than 55 years (P =.0004), diabetes (P =.001), coronary artery disease (P =.0212), and lower extremity arterial occlusive disease (P <.0001) were significantly associated with finger gangrene. CONCLUSION: The young diabetic patient with diffuse vascular disease and ESRD is at high risk for the development of finger gangrene on chronic hemodialysis. Finger gangrene is the result of distal atherosclerosis and is not primarily related to dialysis access.     

Difficult vascular access in patients with end-stage renal failure

BACKGROUND/AIM: End-stage renal failure patients requiring long-term hemodialysis need a durable vascular access. The arteriovenous fistula (AVF) with its long patency rate and low complication profile is usually the first choice for vascular access creation. However, when superficial veins are not suitable for AVF creation or all have been exhausted as a result of repeated AVF procedures, arteriovenous grafts (AVGs) using expanded polytetraflouroethylene (ePTFE) is an alternative. This study reviewed our experience in using PTFE AVGs for vascular access in patients requiring chronic hemodialysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a prospective study, from September 2002 to October 2004, 21 PTFE AVGs were placed in 21 patients. We evaluated the complications and patency. RESULTS: There were 12 female and nine male patients of mean age 58+/-8.7 years (range=45 to 76 years). Nine patients (43%) had hypertensive nephrosclerosis, 6 (29%) diabetic, 2 (10%) glomerulonephritis, 3 (14%) systemic lupus erythematosis requiring long-term steroids, and 1 (4.7%) unknown cause. The patency rate at 24 months was 85.7%. Complications included graft thrombosis (three; 14.3%), wound infection (three; 14.3%) and graft infection (one; 4.8%). CONCLUSION: ePTFE AVGs offer reasonable patency and serviceability rates as a vascular access modality, but in view of their complication profile, the native vein arteriovenous fistula should continue to be the first choice for vascular access for patients requiring chronic hemodialysis.     

Cardiovascular care in end-stage renal disease

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) accounts for the majority of morbidity and mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Chronic kidney disease, and ESRD as its most severe form, are now acknowledged to be independent risk factors for CVD. The spectrum of CVD includes accelerated atherosclerosis, myocardial disease and heart failure, cardiac arrhythmias, and valvular heart disease. In addition, CKD and ESRD are independent and powerful factors that complicate cardiovascular procedures and have been directly linked to increased mortality. This issue of Advances in Chronic Kidney Disease will explore the spectrum of risk and the opportunities to improve care in ESRD in outpatient management, during dialysis, after kidney transplantation, and in coronary revascularization.     

Late nephrology referral and mortality among patients with end-stage renal disease: a propensity score analysis.

BACKGROUND: Late nephrology referral has been associated with adverse outcomes among patients with end-stage renal disease; however, its relationship to mortality is unclear. We examined the impact of timing of nephrology care relative to initiation of dialysis on mortality after initiation of dialysis. METHODS: Data from the Dialysis Morbidity and Mortality Study - Wave II, a prospective study of incident dialysis patients, were used. Late referral (LR) was defined as first nephrology visit <4 months and early referral (ER) as first nephrology visit >or=4 months prior to initiation of dialysis. Propensity scores (PS) were estimated using logistic regression to predict the probability that a given patient was LR. A Cox proportional hazards model was built to examine the association between timing of nephrology referral and mortality. RESULTS: The cohort was comprised of 2195 patients: 54% were males, 66% were Caucasians, 26% were African-Americans and 33% were referred late. A Cox proportional hazards analysis demonstrated that compared with ER patients, LR patients had a 44% higher risk of death at 1 year after initiation of dialysis [hazards ratio (HR) = 1.44; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.15-1.80], which remained significant after adjusting for quintiles of PS (HR = 1.42; 95% CI: 1.12-1.80). CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) who initiated dialysis, LR was associated with higher risk of death at 1 year after initiation of dialysis compared with ER.     

Survival in patients with end-stage renal disease

Based on age and medical condition at the time of treatment, 138 patients beginning dialysis for treatment of chronic renal failure between January 1, 1984 and December 31, 1988, were classified into low, average, and high risk of death. The survival in these three groups was shown to be significantly different after as little as 6 months. The classification scheme is simple, and can be performed at the bedside. Efforts to monitor quality assurance in the dialysis unit must account for the significant differences in expected survival that reflect the case-mix observed in a particular unit.     

Homocysteine and vascular access thrombosis in a cohort of end-stage renal disease patients

BACKGROUND: Maintaining successful hemodialysis services is dependent upon an access to circulation that is reliable and stable. Complications of vascular access such as dysfunction, thrombosis, or infection are major causes of hospitalization with thrombosis being the most common reoccurring problem. Initial prospective evidence supports an independent association between total homocysteine (tHcy) levels and access thrombosis. The purpose of this study was to determine if significant associations exist between tHcy, age, gender, and vascular access thrombosis in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: One hundred eighty-five (N=185) patients undergoing dialysis were selected as subjects. The retrospective sample was divided into a one or less vascular access thrombosis (VAT) (VAT) group (n= 133) and more than one (VAT II) VAT group (n= 52). The data was collected during a 16-month period (January 2000 to April 2002). Additional subgroup analyses included gender and age. RESULTS: The Mann-Whitney U nonparametric t-Test for variance between groups revealed no significant difference in tHcy values between VAT groups (U=1841.50, p=0.284). A two-sample t-Test for variance between tHcy and age revealed no significant differences (F-ratio = 0.832, p = 0.32). A chi-square analysis revealed no significant differences in gender and VAT groups (chi2=0.246, p=0.62). A Kolmogorov-Smirnov test for normality was calculated for tHcy with a p-value of 0.859 revealing insufficient evidence that the distribution is not normal. Spearman Rank Correlations were calculated, revealing low to moderate associations among variables. CONCLUSIONS: While some studies have demonstrated a relationship between tHcy and VAT, this study found that chronically high homocysteine levels in patients with ESRD were not associated with incidence of VAT. There were no significant differences in the number of VATs across additional variables of age and gender.     

Multi-center investigation of intial hemodialysis vascular access in end-stage renal disease patients

Objective To investigate vascular access modalities at initiation of hemodialysis for end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients in hospitals of different levels, and to analyze the reasons contributing to the absence of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) during initial hemodialysis. Methods A pre-designed questionnaire was used to collect the information of patients that entered hemodialysis within five years, including basic information and their first vascular access types, and analyze the factors that influence patients' AVF use. Results (1) According to the 203 questionnaires returned from 5 hospitals, central venous catheter (CVC) was chosen by 122 (60.1%) patients, direct arteriovenous puncture by 44 (21.7%) patients, AVF by only 35 (17.2%) patients, and long-term cuffed catheter by 2 (1.0%) patients. For patients in different hospitals, 61.7% of patients in Jiamusi Hospital used direct arteriovenous puncture, while CVC were used most in the other four hospitals. The leading reason contributing to the absence of AVF was patient's refusal [75 cases (44.6%)], among which patients regarding AVF psychologically unacceptable accounted for the most [44 cases (26.2%)]. Following that were 45 cases (26.8%), in which patients were uninformed of AVF and 38 cases (22.6%) caused by time limitation. (3) Logistic regression showed well-educated, female, and urban residential patients were more likely to choose AVF at initiation of hemodialysis. Conclusion The percentage of AVF utility at the start of hemodialysis remains low, with situation varying in different hospitals and regions. Multiple factors are associated with vascular access modalities, among which the influence of doctors cannot be ignored. More efforts should be spared on patient education to improve the dialysis quality of ESRD patients in China.     

Opportunities for improvement in the cardiovascular care of patients with end-stage renal disease

Cardiovascular disease accounts for the majority of morbidity and mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Studies have identified several explanations for this observation, such as high rates of cardiovascular risk factors, lesser use of cardioprotective strategies, adverse outcomes with cardiovascular drugs and procedures, and accelerated atherosclerosis and myocardial disease in ESRD. Based on these findings, this article addresses the critical opportunities for improvement in cardiovascular outcomes in patients with ESRD. These improvements include prevention of cardiovascular events, management of acute coronary syndromes and heart failure, and the prevention of sudden death.     

Resistance training in patients with end-stage renal disease

Patients with end-stage renal disease have to deal with a lot of health problems which are on the one hand caused by the disease and on the other hand are the result of their reduced physical activity. Both mechanisms lead to a reduced functional ability and often cross the threshold of impairment. The decrease of functional ability is mainly caused by the loss of strength due to a reduction and alteration of muscle fibres and of the neuromuscular system. It is well-known that strength training can improve structural and functional abilities of the muscle in healthy young as well as in old people. Some studies could demonstrate that the beneficial effects of strength training can also be reached in people with end-stage renal disease. A limiting factor for the strength training in dialysis patients may be the disturbed cardio-ciculatory reaction due to cardiac neuropathy, e.g. of the blood pressure response.     

Homocysteine and vascular access thrombosis in end-stage renal disease patients: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND: Though pathology in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients with high total homocysteine (tHcy) can be established, the research findings with vascular access thrombosis (VAT) and tHcy are equivocal. Investigators have found significantly higher homocysteine levels in patients with recurrent VAT compared with one or less episodes of thrombosis. Initial prospective evidence supports an independent association between tHcy levels and access thrombosis. METHODS: One hundred and four patients undergoing dialysis were selected. The experimental group participants were identified as those having one or more vascular access thromboses (VAT) during the previous 14-month period (November 2000 to January 2002) and the control group participants were those with no VAT during the same period. Additional sub-group analyses included the following: a) hypertensive vs. normotensive; b) diabetes mellitus, Type I, Type II, and none; c) gender; d) age. RESULTS: The Mann-Whitney U test for variance revealed no significant difference in tHcy values between VAT groups (U = 1580.5, p = 0.075), no significant differences in VAT and hypertension (U = 1009.0, p = 0.70), and no significant differences in VAT and Diabetes Mellitus (U = 1254.5, p = 0.67). A two-sample t-Test revealed no significant differences in tHcy and age (F-ratio = 1.26, p = 0.47). A Kolmogorov Smirnov test for normality revealed insufficient evidence that the tHcy distribution is not normal. Spearman Rank Correlations were calculated revealing low to moderate associations among variables. CONCLUSIONS: While some studies have demonstrated a relationship between tHcy and VAT, this study found chronically high homocysteine levels in patients with ESRD were not associated with incidence of VAT. There were no significant differences in the number of VAT's across additional variables of age, gender, and previous morbidity. No significant interactions were discovered.     

Cardiac surgery in patients with end-stage renal disease

In a retrospective study we analyzed the clinical features of 85 patients with end-stage renal disease who underwent cardiac operation. Seventy-eight patients were from reports in the literature, and 7 were from our experience. The cardiac procedures were primarily valve replacements and aortocoronary bypass (ACB) operations. The indication for valve replacement was most commonly infective endocarditis (73%), affecting most frequently the aortic valve (68%). The most common organism was Staphylococcus aureus, and there was a recent episode of angioaccess site infection in at least 17.5% of patients with documented endocarditis. The 30-day mortality was 57% for patients undergoing emergency valve replacement and only 3% for similar elective operations. Cumulative survival at 48 months was equal to that of the overall hemodialysis population not having cardiac operations. The mean age (50 years), male to female ratio (9:1), number of vessels bypassed per patient (2.4), and operative mortality for ACB were equal to those reported in comparable series of patients with normal renal function. Cumulative survival at 48 months for ACB patients was similar (60% versus 56%) to that of the overall hemodialysis population. Cardiac operations can be performed safely in patients with end-stage renal disease; the morbidity and mortality are similar to those encountered in patients with normal renal function. The long-term survival after cardiac procedures in patients with end-stage renal disease is similar to that reported for the overall hemodialysis population not having cardiac operations.     

Cardiac surgery in patients with end-stage renal disease

Objectives: The number of patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing open heart surgery continues to grow. We evaluated continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis and the extracorporeal ultrafiltration method during cardiopulmonary bypass in the management of these difficult patients.Methods: These 2 methods were used in 4 patients with renal failure who underwent open heart surgery between July 1997 and March 1999. Preoperative continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis was conducted using standard protocols. Extracorporeal ultrafiltration method was used only during cardiopulmonary bypass. Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis was initiated upon arrival at the intensive care unit. Mean follow-up was 12 months.Results: Postoperative blood urea nitrogen and creatinine concentrations were lower than preoperative concentrations. No patients required hemodialysis. All 4 patients were discharged to their homes. No deaths occurred.Conclusions: Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis and extracorporeal ultrafiltration method are combined to treat patients with end-stage renal disease who require open heart surgery. This combination is simple, and does not require specialized personnel, and obviates the hemodynamic instability associated with hemodialysis.