 |
|
Clinical Trials Present Better Alternatives for Dialysis Patients
September 13, 2007CINCINNATI-Having a healthy kidney is worth a billion dollars.
But an unhealthy kidney costs more-about $16 billion more, according to Prabir Roy-Chaudhury, MD, PhD, associate professor in the division of nephrology and hypertension at the University of Cincinnati (UC).
"It costs about $17 billion a year to care for patients with end-stage kidney disease," he said.
There are currently over 320,000 people undergoing hemodialysis in the United States, a process that costs taxpayers a minimum of $60,000 per patient annually,
Hemodialysis is a technique in which a machine filters wastes out of a patient's blood once the kidney fails.
"In order to perform successful dialysis, it's critical to have a functioning vascular access," Roy-Chaudhury said.
There are two main types of permanent dialysis access: an arteriovenous fistula, which connects the artery and the vein directly, and an arteriovenous graft, which connects the artery and the vein using a plastic tube.
Unfortunately, these connections may only last between six and 12 months due to stenosis, or narrowing of the veins.
As a result, hemodialysis patients often have repeated hospital admissions and surgeries in order to keep their dialysis access open.
In fact, problems associated with vascular access are probably the biggest factors that reduce the quality of life for hemodialysis patients, Roy-Chaudhury said.
"Hemodialysis vascular access dysfunction is viewed as the Achilles heel of dialysis," he added.
In order to reduce the problems linked with hemodialysis vascular-access dysfunction, Roy-Chaudhury, UC surgeons Rino Munda, MD, and Steve Woodle, MD, and colleagues in engineering, radiology, cardiology and pathology have established the Cincinnati Dialysis Access Research Program (CAP).
CAP is a multidisciplinary program that includes NIH-funded basic science research, industry- funded animal studies of new devices and clinical trials for the treatment and prevention of dialysis access stenosis.
Some of the clinical trials being conducted by UC's division of nephrology and transplant surgery include the use of medicated wraps, placed around the access area at the time of surgery. Others include special balloons that allow physicians to deliver a drug directly to the outside of the vessel wall following expansion of the vessel.
"The mission of the CAP is to improve the quality of life for dialysis patients by reducing the problems associated with dialysis vascular access," said Roy-Chaudhury. "We also believe that we can save taxpayers money through our application of cutting-edge technology."
"The fact that we have different specialists working on the same project is a huge strength and a credit to the research atmosphere at UC."
University of Cincinnati
There are currently over 320,000 people undergoing hemodialysis in the United States, a process that costs taxpayers a minimum of $60,000 per patient annually,
Hemodialysis is a technique in which a machine filters wastes out of a patient's blood once the kidney fails.
"In order to perform successful dialysis, it's critical to have a functioning vascular access," Roy-Chaudhury said.
There are two main types of permanent dialysis access: an arteriovenous fistula, which connects the artery and the vein directly, and an arteriovenous graft, which connects the artery and the vein using a plastic tube.
Unfortunately, these connections may only last between six and 12 months due to stenosis, or narrowing of the veins.
As a result, hemodialysis patients often have repeated hospital admissions and surgeries in order to keep their dialysis access open.
In fact, problems associated with vascular access are probably the biggest factors that reduce the quality of life for hemodialysis patients, Roy-Chaudhury said.
"Hemodialysis vascular access dysfunction is viewed as the Achilles heel of dialysis," he added.
In order to reduce the problems linked with hemodialysis vascular-access dysfunction, Roy-Chaudhury, UC surgeons Rino Munda, MD, and Steve Woodle, MD, and colleagues in engineering, radiology, cardiology and pathology have established the Cincinnati Dialysis Access Research Program (CAP).
CAP is a multidisciplinary program that includes NIH-funded basic science research, industry- funded animal studies of new devices and clinical trials for the treatment and prevention of dialysis access stenosis.
Some of the clinical trials being conducted by UC's division of nephrology and transplant surgery include the use of medicated wraps, placed around the access area at the time of surgery. Others include special balloons that allow physicians to deliver a drug directly to the outside of the vessel wall following expansion of the vessel.
"The mission of the CAP is to improve the quality of life for dialysis patients by reducing the problems associated with dialysis vascular access," said Roy-Chaudhury. "We also believe that we can save taxpayers money through our application of cutting-edge technology."
"The fact that we have different specialists working on the same project is a huge strength and a credit to the research atmosphere at UC."
University of Cincinnati
Dialysis Current Events and Dialysis News RSSMultiple health concerns surface as winter, vitamin D deficiences arrive
A string of recent discoveries about the multiple health benefits of vitamin D has renewed interest in this multi-purpose nutrient, increased awareness of the huge numbers of people who are deficient in it, spurred research and even led to an appreciation of it as "nature's antibiotic."
Brain injured athletes may benefit from hypothermia research
NFL players and other athletes who suffer serious or multiple concussions may benefit from ground-breaking research being conducted by scientists at Barrow Neurological Institute at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center. The scientists are developing a surgical technique that involves hypothermia in specific regions of the brain.
The cost of improving dialysis care
Improving survival among dialysis patients may increase treatment costs significantly, according to a paper being presented at the American Society of Nephrology's 42nd Annual Meeting and Scientific Exposition in San Diego, CA.
Women with chronic kidney disease more likely than men to go undiagnosed
Woman are at particular risk of their primary care physicians delaying diagnosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to a paper being presented at the American Society of Nephrology's 42nd Annual Meeting and Scientific Exposition in San Diego, California.
For dialysis patients, skinny is dangerous
Dialysis patients with low body fat are at increased risk of death-even compared to patients at the highest level of body fat percentage, according to research being presented at the American Society of Nephrology's 42nd Annual Meeting and Scientific Exposition in San Diego.
Kidney transplants generally safe for lupus patients
Individuals with a history of lupus who receive a kidney transplant rarely develop the serious inflammatory condition lupus nephritis in their new organ, according to a paper being presented at the American Society of Nephrology's 42nd Annual Meeting and Scientific Exposition in San Diego, CA.
Muscle weakness a common side effect of long stays in intensive care units
After decades of focusing on the management of respiratory failure, circulatory shock and severe infections that lead to extended stays in hospital intensive care units, critical care researchers are increasingly turning attention to what they believe is a treatable complication developed by many who spend days or weeks confined to an ICU bed: debilitating muscle weakness that can linger long after hospital discharge.
Calculate benefit before dialysis for frail elders
Kidney specialists should weigh the potential quality of life for frail elders with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in opting for dialysis over more conservative therapies, a nephrologist and a palliative care specialist suggest in an editorial in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Kidneys from deceased donors with acute renal failure expand donor pool
Kidneys recovered from deceased donors with acute renal failure (ARF) - once deemed unusable for transplant - appear to work just as well as kidneys transplanted from deceased donors who do not develop kidney problems prior to organ donation.
Few complications 1 year after aortic valve implantation
Research presented at the 21st annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific symposium, sponsored by the Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF), demonstrated an "exceptionally low" rate of complications one year after implantation of transcatheter aortic valve prostheses.
More Dialysis Current Events and Dialysis News Articles
 |
Dialysis without Fear: A Guide to Living Well on Dialysis for Patients and Their Families by Daniel Offer (Author), Susan Offer Szafir (Author), Marjorie Kaiz Offer (Author) More than 400,000 people in the United States undergo kidney dialysis. If you or a member of your family are one of them, then the prospect of a regular appointment with a dialysis machine may seem like the end of life itself. But that reaction couldn't be more wrong. In Dialysis Without Fear, psychiatrist and dialysis patient Dr. Daniel Offer joins with his wife, Marjorie Kaiz Offer, and daughter, Susan Offer Szafir, to reveal how life can be lived--and lived well--on dialysis. Drawing on his long medical career and more than seven years of personal experience with dialysis, Dr. Offer dispels many misconceptions surrounding this treatment, explaining how you can adapt to the new diet, travel, work and continue to partake in life's joys and celebrations. But the fears and... |
 |
Handbook of Dialysis by John T. Daugirdas (Editor), Peter G. Blake (Editor), Todd S. Ing (Editor) The revised, updated Fourth Edition of this popular handbook provides practical, accessible information on all aspects of dialysis, with emphasis on day-to-day management of patients. Chapters provide complete coverage of hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, special problems in dialysis patients, and problems pertaining to various organ systems. This edition reflects the latest guidelines of the National Kidney Foundation's Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (KDOQI) on hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis adequacy and on nutrition. New chapters cover chronic kidney disease management in predialysis patients, frequent daily or nocturnal hemodialysis, and hemodiafiltration. Chapters on venous and arteriovenous access have been completely revised. Each chapter provides references to... |
 |
Review of Hemodialysis for Nurses and Dialysis Personnel (Review of Hemodialysis for Nurses & Dialysis Personnel) by Judith Z. Kallenbach (Author), Charles Gutch (Author), Martha Stoner (Author), Anna Corea (Author) This practical, straightforward introduction to dialysis takes an interdisciplinary approach, providing an overview of dialysis technology and the relationship of dialysis to nursing, nutrition, and medicine. Using its hallmark question-and-answer format, the content starts with the basics, including a review of fluids and electrolytes and the renal system, and prepares the reader for more advanced discussions as they are introduced. And with its lifespan coverage and useful quick reference content, it’s no wonder it’s considered the premier resource for educating health professionals on the essentials of dialysis and the related patient care. * Focuses on the roles of the multidisciplinary dialysis team, including the patient and the patient’s family, to provide a comprehensive... |
 |
Principles and Practice of Dialysis (Principles & Practice of Dialysis) by William L Henrich (Author) This book is an evidence-based review of the practical challenges of dealing with patients receiving dialysis. The first section covers technical and procedural considerations such as choosing the hemodialysis membrane and choosing the best dialysis option. The second section covers clinical considerations such as infection and the treatment of specific renal disease complications. The book includes numerous illustrations and tables and drug charts for dialysis patients. This edition's current outcomes chapter has been expanded to include patient depression and improving quality of care. New chapters cover dialysis in the ICU, valvular heart disease, and pre-emptive renal transplantation. |
 |
The Guide to Nutrition and diet for Dialysis Patients by M.D. R.H. (AHG) Shuang Chen (Author) Specifically written for patients undergoing dialysis treatment, this guide provides important nutritional and dietary information to improve the patients' quality of life during dialysis and to prolong their lives. Presented in a concise, easy to read format, complete with food analyses and charts, The Guide To Nutrition and Diet for Dialysis Patients addresses thirty-eight of the most commonly asked questions on diet and nutrition, offering essential knowledge for dialysis patients and their families. This book also includes a series of lists for patients to use in identifying foods with high calcium, potassium, sodium and phosphorous contents. This guide is relevant for all people concerned with dietary consumption. |
 |
Nepro Liquid Nutrition, Homemade Vanilla, 8-Ounce Plastic Bottles (Pack of 24) by Nepro Nepro Liquid Nutrition in Homemade Vanilla is intended for people requiring electrolyte and fluid restrictions. This improved formula provides specialized complete, balanced nutrition, specifically designed to meet the dietary needs of people on dialysis. High in calories, moderate protein, low electrolytes, and with 1900 calories (1 quart), it provides at least 100-percent of the RDI for 18 key vitamins and minerals. It is a high calcium, low phosphorus, lactose free, supplement or sole source of nutrition, while being low in vitamins A and D, and high in folic acid and vitamin B6, because of the altered metabolism of people on dialysis. Ready to use. For adults and children 4 or more years of age. |
 |
Cooking for David: A Culinary Dialysis Cookbook by Sara Colman (Author), Dorothy Gordon (Author) Cookbook facts: Published September 2000: the newest, most up-to-date dialysis cookbook available. 272 pages 12 chapters with dividers. Top-quality padded, laminated linen spill proof cover. 3-Ring loose leaf binder that opens so you can add new upcoming recipes from our website. Pre-planned daily menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner with nutrient totals and National Renal Diet Food Choice totals. Guidelines for food selection, preparation and portioning for the dialysis diet. Renal Dialysis Food Pyramid pull-out included with every book. A handy "E-Zel" cookbook stand included with every book. 160 tested recipes. A complete nutrient analysis for each recipe includes: Sodium Potassium Phosphorus Protein Fat ... |
 |
Dialysis Membrane Tubing 10' by Nasco Scientific Made of seamless, regenerated cellulose. An excellent membrane designed for laboratory dialysis and routine osmosis/diffusion experiments. Flat Width 1-3/4" 10' long |
 |
Manual of Clinical Dialysis by Suhail Ahmad (Author) This second edition of the Manual of Clinical Dialysis is a concise and well-illustrated guide to all aspects of dialysis. All chapters have been revised and present a complete overview of the techniques, processes and equipment involved in clinical dialysis as well as an overview of the complications of dialysis. The manual also provides an overview of common clinical problems related to renal failure such as hypertension, anemia and renal osteodystrophy. |
 |
That Damn Dialysis by Cindy Barclay (Author) Cledus is an attractive, hardworking, 50-year-old man with a sense of humor and whose world is turned upside down when he becomes one of 20.6 million Americans who are diagnosed with chronic kidney disease each year. His girlfriend leaves him, his mother tries to take over his life, and his financial security is severely compromised as his world shrinks down to monitoring the buzzing sound of his ""lifeline"" that confirms he is alive. Cledus’ story is told with compassion and humor that encompasses the uncertainty, fears, and frustration of day-to-day living while coping with this disease. Readers will share the journey with Cledus as he faces his challenges, and relates his frustration, his feelings of isolation and his courage as he deals with the life-sustaining confinement of a... |
| © 2009 BrightSurf.com |