Research shows, applying ultrasonography to diagnose and monitor the patients with hemodialysis of artificial arteriovenous fistula can improve the diagnostic level and treatment level for the disease, which can be promoted and applied in clinical practice. A total of 72 cases with uremia hemodialysis received ultrasonography before and after artificial arteriovenous fistula. The ultrasound indicated that the success rate of fistulization with low blood flow was 25.00%, and that with normal blood flow was 55.56%, and that with high blood flow was 19.44%. The success rate of the normal group was evidently higher than that of the high or low blood-flow group. The blood flow and blood velocity of patients 1 week, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks after operation increased steadily. Why is it so important to choose the right blood vessel?
Standard Procedure in Hemodialysis Treatment
During hemodialysis, patients' blood goes through a filter, called a dialyzer, outside their body. A dialyzer is sometimes called an “artificial kidney.”
At the start of a hemodialysis treatment, a dialysis nurse or technician places two needles into the arm. One may prefer to put in their own needles after trained by their health care team. A numbing cream or spray can be used. Each needle is attached to a soft tube connected to the dialysis machine.
During hemodialysis, patients' blood is pumped through a filter, called a dialyzer.
The dialysis machine pumps blood through the filter and returns the blood back in. During the process, the dialysis machine checks your blood pressure and controls how quickly
- Flood flows through the filter
- Fluid is removed from your body
Ultrasound System in Hemodialysis Treatment
Pre-Operation
- The success of establishing a new AVF (Arteriovenous Fistula) is mainly dependent on arterial inflow and venous outflow. In complex cases, especially in patients with a previous history of failed ostomy, or poor vascular conditions, the use of color Doppler ultrasound system provides more reliable examination during this process
- Puncturing assistance by ultrasonic scanning, which could avoid repeated puncturing
- Evaluate the state of the arteries by using eVol.Flow measuring tool
- Evaluate the state of the veins by using eVol.Flow measuring tool
- Measure the internal diameters of arteries and veins (intima to intima);
- Measure the intima thickness of arteries and veins (arterial peak systolic velocity was the main factor) to observe whether arterial walls had scleral plaques and whether there was variation in venous flow.
- Mark the branches of larger jugular veins
- Increase the success rate of AVF establishing
Post-Operation
- Check the state of fistula stoma
- Measure the blood flow velocity of the fistula stoma
- Measure the internal diameter of arteries and veins
- Observe whether there is an upper limb hematoma
Reference
Hall, Y. N., Larive, B., Painter, P., Kaysen, G. A., Lindsay, R. M., Nissenson, A. R., ... & Frequent Hemodialysis Network Trial Group. (2012). Effects of six versus three times per week hemodialysis on physical performance, health, and functioning: Frequent Hemodialysis Network (FHN) randomized trials. Clinical journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 7(5), 782-794.
