Advancing arteriovenous fistula needling: The role of physical exam and doppler ultrasound.

BACKGROUND: The success of haemodialysis (HD) critically depends on the effective use of arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs). The precise needling technique is vital to minimise complications and ensure functional vascular access. OBJECTIVE: This study assesses the effectiveness of a nursing consultation protocol, which integrates physical examination (PE) with Doppler Ultrasound (DUS), in preparing patients for the first AVF needling. DESIGN/PARTICIPANTS: A cross-sectional analysis at a Portuguese National Health Service Hospital engaged thirty new HD patients, four HD needling experienced nurses and one HD vascular access nurse. This study examines the accuracy of PE in assessing the matured AVF by the four nurses compared to a trained vascular access nurse encompassing systematic PE and DUS. MEASUREMENTS: The primary data incorporated AVF characteristics derived from PE (inspection, palpation, and auscultation) and DUS findings (vein depth, diameter, and blood flow). A secondary focus was evaluating the change in nurses' perceived needling complexity following the nursing consultation. RESULTS: The nursing consultation significantly enhanced the identification of crucial AVF features, such as accessory veins (p = 0.002), and improved the accuracy of AVF morphology assessments. This led to identifying longer needling tracks (p = 0.031) and a higher number of safe needling points (p = 0.016). Nurses reported a notable reduction in perceived complexity and potential adverse events following this method (p = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: Integrating structured PE with DUS in a nursing consultation framework significantly improves the preparation for AVF needling. This approach enhances the efficiency and safety of AVF needling and boosts nurse confidence and patient care in HD settings.

Empreendedorismo na Enfermagem em Estomaterapia: Aspectos Potencializadores de Atuação no Mercado de Trabalho / Entrepreneurship in Stomal Therapy Nursing: Potential Aspects of Performance in the Labor Market / Emprendimiento en Enfermería Estomaterápica: Aspectos Potenciales de Desempeño en el Mercado Laboral

Objetivo:Analisar os aspectos potencializadores descritos por enfermeiros estomaterapeutas para realização de atividades empreendedoras. Método: Estudo de natureza qualitativa, do tipo descritivo-exploratório, realizado por meio de entrevista semiestruturada, entre os meses de janeiro e abril de 2020, com 26 estomaterapeutas empreendedores, apoiado na técnica não probabilística conhecida como snowball, ou bola de neve. Os dados coletados foram transcritos de forma integral e, posteriormente, tratados, aplicando-se a técnica de análise temática de conteúdo. Resultados: Foram relacionados temas que perpassaram pela percepção de potencializadores do empreendedorismo na estomaterapia, como a demanda do mercado e o vasto campo empreendedor da especialidade; a experiência clínica; a importância da indicação por outros pacientes e profissionais; a influência das mídias sociais e o sentimento de satisfação com o desenvolvimento da atividade laboral. Conclusão: A análise dos dados permitiu concluir que os potencializadores citados podem ser reflexo da reduzida oferta de serviços públicos especializados à população, ampliando-se a busca por tais especialistas de forma particular, tanto pela indicação de outros pacientes e profissionais quanto pela busca nas mídias sociais, o que expande os campos de atuação do estomaterapeuta e pode trazer maior satisfação com seu trabalho enquanto especialistas

Objective:To analyze the potentiating aspects of entrepreneurial activities described by stomal therapist nurses. Method: Qualitative, descriptive-exploratory study, carried out through semi-structured interviews, between January and April 2020, with 26 enterprising stoma therapists, supported by the non-probabilistic technique known as snowball. The collected data were fully transcribed and subsequently treated, applying the thematic content analysis technique. Results: Topics that pervaded the perception of entrepreneurship potential in stomatherapy were related, such as market demand and the vast entrepreneurial field of the specialty; clinical experience; the importance of indication by other patients and professionals; the influence of social media and the feeling of satisfaction with the development of the work activity. Conclusion: The analysis of the data allowed us to conclude that the cited potentiators may be a reflection of the reduced supply of specialized public services to the population, expanding the search for such specialists in a particular way, both by referring other patients and professionals and by searching through the social media, which expands the fields of action of the stoma therapist and can bring more satisfaction with their work as specialists.

Objetivo:Analizar los aspectos potenciadores de las actividades emprendedoras descritos por enfermeros estomaterapeutas. Método: Estudio cualitativo, descriptivo-exploratorio, realizado a través de entrevistas semiestructuradas, entre enero y abril de 2020, con 26 estomaterapeutas emprendedores, apoyados en la técnica no probabilística conocida como "Bola de Nieve". Los datos recogidos fueron transcritos íntegramente y posteriormente tratados, aplicando la técnica de análisis de contenido temático. Resultados: Se relacionaron temas que impregnaron la percepción de los potenciadores del emprendimiento en estomaterapia, como la demanda del mercado y el vasto campo empresarial de la especialidad, la experiencia clínica, la importancia de la indicación por parte de otros pacientes y profesionales, la influencia de las redes sociales y el sentimiento de satisfacción con lo que haces. Conclusión: El análisis de los datos permite concluir que los citados potenciadores pueden ser reflejo de la reducida oferta de servicios públicos especializados a la población, ampliando de manera particular la búsqueda de estos profesionales, tanto por la derivación de otros pacientes y profesionales como por la búsqueda a través de las redes sociales, que amplían los campos de actuación del profesional y pueden traer más satisfacción con su trabajo como especialistas.

Construção e validação de um modelo de decisão para a canulação da fistula arteriovenosa em hemodiálise / Arteriovenous fistula cannulation in hemodialysis: Constructing and validating a decision-making model / Construcción y validación de un modelo de decisión para la canulación de fístulas arteriovenosas en hemodiálisis

Resumo Enquadramento: A fístula arteriovenosa é considerada como o acesso vascular de eleição para hemodiálise, a sua utilização pode ser realizada através de quatro técnicas de canulação distintas: Escada, Botoeira, MuST ou Área. Objetivo: Construir e validar um instrumento de apoio à decisão para a técnica de canulação ideal da fistula arteriovenosa em hemodiálise. Metodologia: Estudo metodológico em duas etapas mediante a realização da técnica de Delphi entre outubro 2021 e fevereiro de 2022 através de 27 juízes peritos. O instrumento de apoio ao modelo de decisão para a canulação foi segmentado em quatro blocos: avaliação física, avaliação ecográfica, esquema fotográfico com dermopigmentação e observações. Para análise, utilizou-se o índice de validade de conteúdo ≥ 0,90. Resultados: Obteve-se consenso final de juízes através de uma concordância unânime na estrutura do instrumento e um índice de validade de conteúdo global de 0,94. Conclusão: O instrumento em estudo revelou-se válido em aparência e conteúdo para aplicação em consulta de enfermagem.

Abstract Background: The arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is the preferred vascular access for hemodialysis. Four different cannulation techniques can be used: Rope Ladder (RL), Buttonhole (BH), Multiple Single cannulation Technique (MuST), or Area Puncture (AP). Objective: To build and validate a decision-making instrument for the optimal AVF cannulation technique in hemodialysis. Methodology: This two-stage methodological study using the Delphi method was conducted between October 2021 and February 2022 with 27 experts. The decision-making instrument for choosing the cannulation technique was divided into four blocks: physical assessment, ultrasound assessment, vascular access graphical representation, and observations. The content validity index ≥ 0.90 was used in the analysis. Results: The instrument's structure obtained the unanimous agreement of the experts and an overall content validity index of 0.94. Conclusion: The instrument under analysis proved to have the face and content validity for nursing consultations.

Resumen Marco contextual: La fístula arteriovenosa se considera el acceso vascular de preferencia para la hemodiálisis y puede realizarse mediante cuatro técnicas de canulación diferentes, escalera, ojal, MuST o área. Objetivo: Construir y validar una herramienta de apoyo a la decisión para la técnica ideal de canulación de la fístula arteriovenosa en hemodiálisis. Metodología: Estudio metodológico en dos etapas mediante la técnica Delphi entre octubre de 2021 y febrero de 2022 con 27 jueces expertos. El instrumento de apoyo al modelo de decisión para la canulación se segmentó en cuatro bloques: evaluación física, evaluación ecográfica, esquema fotográfico con dermopigmentación y observaciones. Para el análisis, se utilizó el índice de validez de contenido ≥ 0,90. Resultados: El consenso final de los jueces se obtuvo mediante un acuerdo unánime sobre la estructura del instrumento y un índice de validez de contenido global de 0,94. Conclusión: El instrumento estudiado demostró ser válido en apariencia y contenido para aplicarlo en la consulta de enfermería.

Skin pigmentation as landmark for arteriovenous fistula cannulation in hemodialysis.

BACKGROUND: The cannulation of the arteriovenous fistula (AVF) for hemodialysis (HD) has traditionally depended on the nurse's tactile sensation, which has been associated with suboptimal needle placement and detrimental effects on vascular access (VA) longevity. While the introduction of ultrasound (US) has proven beneficial in mapping the AVF outflow vein and assisting in cannulation planning, aneurysmal deformations remain a common occurrence resulting from various factors, including inadequate cannulation techniques. Within this context, the utilization of skin pigmentation as a clinical landmark has emerged as a potential approach to enhance cannulation planning in HD. METHODS: A prospective longitudinal study was undertaken to investigate the correlation between the occurrence of venous morphological deformations and the cannulation technique guided by skin pigmentation after a 2-month period of implementation. RESULTS: Thirty patients were enrolled in the study with 433 cannulations being described within the first 2 months of AVF use. The overall rate of cannulation-related adverse events was 21.9%. Comparative analysis demonstrated a statistically significant relationship (p < 0.001) between aneurysmal deformation and non-compliance with the proposed cannulation technique, resulting in cannulation outside the designated points. Non-compliance was primarily attributed to nurse's decision (57.1%). CONCLUSION: The integration of US mapping of the AVF outflow vein and the utilization of skin pigmentation as a guiding tool have shown promising results in enhancing cannulation planning over time. Consistent adherence to a cannulation technique other than the area technique has been found to reduce the risk of AVF morphological deformation. These findings underscore the potential benefits of incorporating skin pigmentation as a clinical landmark in cannulation practices, highlighting its ability to impact positively cannulation outcomes.

Arteriovenous fistula cannulation in hemodialysis: A vascular access clinical practice guidelines narrative review.

The cannulation of an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) by the hemodialysis (HD) nurse is challenging. Despite it being the focus of extensive research, it is still one of the majors causes of damage making it prone to failure. A considerable number of Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) for the management of vascular access (VA) have been published worldwide over the past two decades. This review aimed to assess all information available in the selected CPG regarding AVF cannulation for HD providing a comprehensive analysis in order to interpret possible future cannulation approaches. A total of seven CPGs were described in a coding table separated in seven subthemes: Initiation of cannulation, preparation, technique, needle selection, surveillance, pain, and education. Our analysis outlines current CPGs for HD VA cannulation with lack of good evidence support for the majority of the recommendations, showing that, there is an urgent need for international collaboration and coordination to ensure relevant and high-quality evidence. Future CPGs must consider recommendations with better grading of evidence aiming patient-centered care and nurse decision models that can potentially represent better AVF cannulation outcomes.