Abstract

VENTURA, Ana  and  PEREIRA, Susana. Focus on: I - The nephrologist’s role in arteriovenous fistulae monitoring and surveillance. Port J Nephrol Hypert [online]. 2015, vol.29, n.3, pp.207-212. ISSN 0872-0169.

The vascular access is critical in chronic haemodialysis patients. A well functional arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is associated with reduced morbidity and mortality. Monitoring and surveillance programmes for early recognition and treatment of vascular access dysfunction could increase patency rates. An AVF monitoring and surveillance programme is proposed, correlating parameters of the dialysis treatment, physical examination and access blood flow measurements (Qa). The central role of nephrologists is emphasized, along with the critical interventions for success of this process: leadership, multidisciplinary involvement, regular and standardized assessment of the vascular access, training/education and regular auditing of outcomes

Keywords : Haemodialysis; monitoring; surveillance; vascular access.

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