Pre dialysis care and types of vascular access employed in incident hemodialysis patients: A study from Pakistan

Objective: To determine frequency of different vascular access use in Incident hemodialysis (HD) patients and determine whether predialysis care in terms of timely advice for vascular access placement was better in the hands of nephrologist.

Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted. Data was collected on the type of access used for first HD, including temporary Central venous catheters (CVC), permanent CVC (Permacath), arteriovenous fistula (AVF), or arteriovenous graft (AVG). In addition, information was also gathered if patients were aware of their renal disease and was followed by other physicians or nephrologist.

Results: A total of 120 patients were enrolled in the study, 80% required CVC as their first access for HD (96/120 patients) out of which 74.2% were dialyzed through temporary catheter and 5.8% through Permacath. About 20% of patients were dialyzed through mature Arteriovenous (AV) access. Majority (95.8%) of patients were being followed by any health care provider. 68% of them were aware of their renal disease. About 55.8% were referred to nephrologist and 40% were followed by other physicians. About 83.5% of patients followed by nephrologist were advised AV access prior to commencing HD, compared to only 10.4% followed by other physicians (p < 0.05). 24/61 (39.3%) patients that were advised AV access by both groups had timely made AV access and underwent HD by it.

Conclusion: Very high incidence of temporary HD catheter was used in Incident HD patients. Moreover, pre dialysis care in terms of placement of AV access prior to initiating HD is better in the hands of nephrologist and patients should be timely referred to nephrologist especially when they have Stage 4 chronic kidney disease (CKD).