Hemodialysis Vascular access maintenance in the Covid-19 pandemic: Positioning paper from the Interventional Nephrology Committee of the Brazilian Society of Nephrology.

Vascular accesses for hemodialysis are considered the patient's lifeline and their maintenance is essential for treatment continuity. Following the example of institutions in other countries affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Brazilian Society of Nephrology developed these guidelines for healthcare services, elaborating on the importance of carrying out procedures for the preparation and preservation of vascular accesses. Creating definitive accesses for hemodialysis, grafts and arteriovenous fistulas are non-elective procedures, as well as the transition from the use of non-tunneled catheters to tunneled catheters, which cause less morbidity.

Evaluation of variables associated with the patency of arteriovenous fistulas for hemodialysis created by a nephrologist.

Introduction: Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is considered the gold standard vascular access for chronic hemodialysis, and its failure predicts higher morbidity and mortality rates.

Objective: 1) To evaluate the success rate of AVF created by a nephrologist and 2) to identify clinical, laboratory, and demographic variables that influence AVF patency.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of 101 patients with chronic kidney disease for a total of 159 AVF created by a nephrologist between June 2010 and June 2013.

Development of skills to utilize point-of-care ultrasonography in nephrology practice.

Introduction: The use of ultrasonography (US) by non-radiologists has increased due to the need of physicians to integrate "new" clinical information into the diagnostic process. A defined and validated ultrasound training program has not been established in Nephrology. This study aimed to present the results of assessment of the development of skills to utilize point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS) in Nephrology practice.