Articles & Presentations

2010 Fistula First Comprehensive Fistula Construction
and Management Program for Surgeons

• In November, the 2010 Fistula First Comprehensive Fistula Construction and Management Program for Surgeons: “How to Make Fistulas that Work” was held in Chicago, IL. As you know, a skilled vascular surgeon, who is able to create a functional arteriovenous fistula utilizing the most current placement techniques, is vital to the quality of dialysis patient care. This day-long, intensive symposium was designed to provide access surgeons with the tools for successful surgical approaches to fistula creation and care, and is now available on the Hypertension, Dialysis and Clinical Nephrology (HDCN) website in PDF, and FLASH or MP3 audiofiles.
  • How To Make Fistulas That Work

Articles

• A Patient Centered Decision Making Dialysis Access Algorithm (2007)
  by I. Davidson, M. Gallieni, R. Saxena, and B. Dolmatch
• Basilic Vein Transposition: A case report with contra-lateral removal of a large A-V fistula (2005)
  by I. Davidson and D. Cava-Bartsch
• Articles on Vascular Access (VAMP)
  Included in this resource are articles that will assist you in improving fistula rates at your facility. For those project partners who are focusing their efforts on specific areas of the Fistula First project, the resources have been categorized according to change concept. Some of these articles will be pertinent to multiple change concepts.
• A Practitioner’s Resource Guide to Hemodialysis Arteriovenous Fistulas
  by Gerald Beathard, MD, PhD, FACP, FCAP - Includes information on types and characteristics of AVF, requirements for an AVF, arterial and venous evaluation of patient prior to AVF placement, maximizing AVF creation, secondary AVF, AVF development, and recommendations for intervening on AVF complications.
• Physical Examination of Dialysis Vascular Access
  by Gerald Beathard, MD, PhD, FACP, FCAP - Physical examination related to AVF, arterial and venous evaluation of patient prior to AVF placement, evaluation of late AVF problems and physical examination related to AV grafts.
• Cannulation Camp: Basic Needle Cannulation Training for Dialysis Staff
  by Deborah Brouwer, RN, CNN - A review of the basic skills needed to correctly cannulate an AV Fistula or PTFE graft. Ways to identify the two types of accesses and to determine the direction of bloodflow are described. Access site determination and preparation, needle placement and direction and various cannulation techniques are explained and supported by illustrations. Complications are examined, as well as possible treatments and ways to prevent recurrences.
• AV fistula rates: Changing the culture of vascular access
  by R.L. McGill, R.J. Marcus, D.A. Healy, D.J. Brouwer, B.C. Smith, and S.E. Sandroni - Adherence to a strategic program similar to the Fistula First Initiative can increase fistula rates under ordinary practice conditions. High fistula rates can be achieved in male and female patients. Unanimous commitment among all members of the health care team is needed. Reduction in the risks of infection, bacteremia, endocarditis, and death may be derived from achievable changes in practice. (The Journal of Vascular Access 2005; 6: 13-7)
• Solutions for hemodialysis vascular access dysfunction: Thinking out of the box!!
  by P. Roy-Chaudhury, M. Melhem, T. Husted, and B.S. Kelly - This editorial review will (a) briefly summarize the main problems currently associated with the two permanent forms of dialysis access and (b) identify potential novel solutions and approaches to tackle these problems. (The Journal of Vascular Access 2005; 6: 3-8)
• Increasing AVF Use in a Nephrology Practice
  January/February 2005 National Kidney Foundation Chronic Kidney Disease Best Practice Newsletter
• Buttonhole Method
  From the Home Dialysis Central web site
• Using the Buttonhole Technique for Your AV Fistula Brochure

Presentation Slides

Creating AV Fistulae In All Eligible Hemodialysis Patients, July 2007, Presented by William C. Jennings, MD, FACS, Lawrence Spergel, MD, FACS, and W. Perry Arnold, MD.

A detailed review of new and established surgical techniques in constructing dialysis Vascular Access.

• Creating AV Fistulae In All Eligible Hemodialysis Patients (July 2007)

Clinical Update: Advances in Hemodialysis Vascular Access (April 24, 2004)

• ESRD Network of Texas Fistula First Project Update
  Alex Rosenblum, BSRN, CNN, CPHQ
• Strategies to Increase AVF Rates
  Larry Spergel, MD
• Predictors of Successful AVF Maturation
  Greg Pearl, MD
• Surgical Approaches to AVF Construction
  Larry Spergel, MD
• Alternative Placement to the AVF
  Ronald Blumoff, MD
• Vein Transpositions
  Eric Peden, MD
• Lower Extremity Procedures
  Edward Gomez, MD
• Endovascular Strategies to Improve AVF Patency Rates
  Gerald Beathard, MD
• Creation and Maintenance of Dialysis Access: Coding Review & Update
  Melody Mulaik, CPC, RCC

Assorted Presentations from Regional Fistula First Conferences

• Fistula First Project Update
  Alex Rosenblum, BSRN, CNN, CPHQ
• Interventional Radiology Techniques
  George Nassar, MD
• ABC's of AVFs
  Janet Holland, RN, CNN
• Vascular Access Surgery 101
  Pho Do, MD
• Vascular Access for the 21st Century
  Gerald Beathrd, MD
• Clinical Strategies to Increase Arterio-Venous Fistulas
  Ingemar J Davidson, MD - UT Southwestern Medical Center

Other Articles and Presentations

• ESRD Network of Texas 2003 Annual M eeting
  Slides display background information for the national NVAII “Fistula First Project,” Texas AVF data and Network/MRB strategies to increase AVF rates. (September 2003)
• The ABC’s of AV Fistulas
  Deborah Brouwer, RN, CNN. Slide presentations on AVF assessment and cannulation, Buttonhole Technique and AV Graft Cannulation. (May 2004)