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Ultrasound Guided Hemodialysis Access
Over 500,000 people receive hemodialysis annually in the United States. The majority of these patients receive renal replacement therapy via an arteriovenous fistula or a graft.
To receive dialysis, two large bore cannulas are inserted into the access site.
Traditionally this is performed blindly without the aid of imaging.
There are technical challenges with this approach including the patient’s body habitus, the depth of the av access circuit, tortuosity, and mechanical problems including mural thrombus and aneurysms.
Subsequently, up to 15% of all cannulation attempts are unsuccessful.
Failed cannulation is painful and frustrating for the patient. Infiltration commonly occurs with a failed attempt and often renders the av access temporarily unusable.
The patient then requires placement of a hemodialysis catheter to complete their therapy.
This subjects the patient to an additional invasive procedure and its inherent risks. Additionally there is loss of revenue for the dialysis center and increased costs to the healthcare system.
Our extensive research has identified two barriers to the implementation of point-of-care ultrasound during dialysis cannulation: hardware costs and lack of training.
The development of handheld ultrasound probes such as the Butterfly, Clarius, Vscan Air, and Biim have made this technology affordable.
Vascular Ultrasound’s comprehensive in-person training program is specifically designed for proficiency in ultrasound guided cannulation. The course includes a short didactic on normal and abnormal imaging findings. This is followed by a hands-on simulation lab that focuses on image optimization and needle coordination.
Next, we integrate ultrasound real time into your scheduled patients for the day.
Our expert instructors will have your staff up to speed in just a few hours. There is no need for your nurses to travel to an expensive weekend course.
