Future of home haemodialysis in Australia and New Zealand.

Maintenance haemodialysis (HD) was pioneered in Seattle and rapidly became home-based. When dialysis treatment began in Australia and New Zealand, home haemodialysis (HHD) became the predominant form of dialysis. When compared with in-centre conventional dialysis, HHD is associated with superior survival and quality of life and is cheaper.

Long-term survival of arteriovenous fistulas in home hemodialysis patients.

Background: We report the outcome of arteriovenous (AV) fistulas created and managed by a multidisciplinary team in patients on hemodialysis (HD) over 20 years.

Methods: We analyzed 432 AV fistulas in 301 home HD patients (12% diabetic; median age 47 years) followed for up to 161 months. Observed end points were spontaneous or surgical AV fistula closure, or construction of a new vascular anastomosis.

Effects of long and short hemodialysis on endothelial function: a short-term study.

Background: Endothelial dysfunction is common in end-stage renal disease and may contribute to the development of both hypertension and atherosclerosis. Long-slow hemodialysis (HD) has been associated with superior blood pressure control and fewer cardiovascular complications. We hypothesized that long dialysis times would improve endothelial function compared with shorter dialysis times.

Hypertension as a determinant of survival for patients treated with home dialysis.

Background: Previous studies of the risks of hypertension for dialysis patients have yielded conflicting results. The aim of this study was to investigate, in a home dialysis population with low rates of diabetes and antihypertensive drug use, whether blood pressure (BP) was an independent risk factor for survival.

Methods: The outcome of 168 consecutive patients (94 male, 88% Caucasian), aged 48 years (SD 16), who began home hemodialysis (HD; N = 124) or home continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD; N = 44) between January 1, 1985 and December 31, 1994 were analyzed retrospectively.