[Contribution of hemostatic dressings in the hemostasis of arteriovenous fistula? A quality improvement program in our center]. / Évaluation de nos pratiques professionnelles : apport des pansements hémostatiques dans l'hémostase de la fistule artério-veineuse ?

INTRODUCTION: In haemodialysis patients the length of bleeding times after fistula cannulation is an easy and fairly used method of monitoring vascular access. In the most cases, compression is performed manually by nurses and the use of haemostatic dressing is common. As data in the literature are scares, we have decided to develop a quality improvement program in our hemodialysis center to manage this issue. MATERIAL AND METHODS: After informed consent, 35 hemodialysis outpatients were selected in order to study the bleeding time using haemostatic dressing or not during two weeks in a cross over schema. The dialysis schedule was unchanged and comparative analysis of parameters such as blood flow rate or anticoagulant treatment were done between the groups. RESULTS: Compression times with and without hemostatic dressing were not different (12.6 min and 12.9 min, respectively). Patients with an anticoagulation during the dialysis session greater than 0.35 IU/kg/session had a longer bleeding time (12.75 min vs 11.75 min; P=0.008). CONCLUSION: In our evaluation, the use of haemostatic dressings is not associated with a real shorter bleeding time. Their use generate an additional cost estimated on average at 164 euros/year/patient. Patients and team realized that compression time is important for fistula monitoring and using compresses does not really increase this time.

Combining intra-dialytic exercise and nutritional supplementation in malnourished older haemodialysis patients: Towards better quality of life and autonomy.

Protein-energy wasting (PEW), defined as a loss of body protein mass and fuel reserves, is a powerful predictor of adverse outcomes in haemodialysis (HD) patients. Robust arguments suggest that intra-dialytic exercise, combined with oral/parenteral nutrition, enhances the effect of nutritional interventions in HD patients. This pilot randomized controlled trial investigated the feasibility and the effects of a 6 month intra-dialytic cycling program combined to a nutritional support on PEW, physical functioning (gait, balance, muscle strength) and quality of life (QoL) in older HD patients (mean age 69.7 ± 14.2 years).Twenty-one patients fulfilling diagnostic criteria of PEW were randomly assigned to Nutrition-Exercise group (GN-Ex , n = 10) or Nutrition group (GN , n = 11). Both groups received nutritional supplements in order to reach recommended protein and energy intake goals. In addition GN-Ex completed a cycling program. No significant difference between groups was found in the number of patients having reached remission of PEW. Likewise, no change was observed in serum-albumin, -prealbumin, C-reactive protein, body mass index, lean- and fat-tissue index, or quadriceps force. Interestingly, we found positive effects of exercise on physical function and QoL for the GN-Ex , as evidenced by a significant improvement in the 6-min walk test (+22%), the absence of decline in balance (unlike the GN ), and a noteworthy increase in QoL (+53%). Combining intra-dialytic exercise and nutrition in HD patients is feasible, and well accepted, improves physical function and QoL but it appears not to have the potential to reverse PEW.

Implicit postural control strategies in older hemodialysis patients: an objective hallmark feature for clinical balance assessment.

Elderly patients with end stage renal diseases (ESRD) undergoing hemodialyis (HD) present poorer physical function and higher accident falls than healthy elderly population. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the HD-related changes in postural sway in ESRD patients, as an objective hallmark of their functional abilities. We hypothesized that the ESRD symptoms (i.e. uremic syndrome) and the HD therapy affected the postural control, evidenced by higher bounding limits of center-of-pressure (COP) velocity dynamics. Fifty-five participants, including 28 HD patients and 27 age, body mass index and gender-matched healthy participants HS (70.42 ± 13.69 years; 23.46 ± 4.67 kg/m(2); 35.7% women vs. 73.62 ± 6.59 years; 25.09 ± 3.54 kg/m(2); 37% women), were asked to maintain quiet stance on force platform, with eyes open and eyes closed. COP parameters were mean and standard deviation (SD) of position, velocity and average absolute maximal velocity (AAMV) in antero-posterior and medio-lateral directions. The results revealed a significant main effect of group on velocity-based variables, highlighting that mean velocity, SD velocity and AAMV (p<0.01) were higher for HD as compared to HS. These findings identified the bounding limits of COP velocity as an objective hallmark feature of HD-related changes in postural sway. The clinical assessment of this active control of COP velocity dynamics could be useful to examine the effects of targeted intradialytic exercise programs on functional performances and for early detection of increased fall risk in HD patients.

[When to place a patient on the kidney transplantation waiting list?]. / Quand faut-il inscrire un patient sur la liste d'attente de transplantation rénale?

Practices for enrollment on kidney transplantation waiting lists are variable between geographical areas and centers. Early referral of patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) to a nephrologist, particularly one practicing in a transplantation center, is a prerequisite to early enrollment. Despite improved survival in elderly transplant recipients, being aged over 65 years is still a barrier against enrollment. Furthermore certain comorbid conditions such as diabetes mellitus are often wrongly considered as contraindications for transplantation. If nephrological management is initiated early, enrollment could (should?) be considered before the terminal phase of CRF, with the hope of preemptive transplantation with the known advantages not only for the individual recipient but also for the community in general. Glomerular filtration rate below 20 ml/minute could be a reasonable cutoff for enrollment. Patients referred late to a nephrologist will require dialysis. Dialysis center staff should be well trained in delivering appropriate information on kidney transplantation and initiating evaluation. A consultation with a transplantation specialist should be rapidly scheduled.

[The role of the nephrologist in delivering the information about transplantation from a living-donor]. / Place du néphrologue dans l'information sur la transplantation à partir d'un donneur vivant.

Eight percent only of the renal transplantations performed each year in France are from a living-donor, to be compared with 30-50% in Northern Europe and the USA. From the experience of these countries, we understand that to be successful, the information has to be delivered early in the course of kidney failure. It means that informing the patient about living-donation should be the mission, not of the transplant team, but of the patient nephrologist. There are many other reasons to give him this initiating role: he has a general vision of the treatment of end stage renal disease for this patient as well as a better knowledge of his psychological, socioprofessionnal and familial situation and he can more easily meet patient's relatives to discuss kidney donation.