Publications by authors named "Anna Mudoni"

Background: The juxta-anastomotic stenosis (JAS) represents the major complication of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) during the first months after the surgery and the approach to JAS can be surgical or radiological.

Methods: From 01/02/2016 to 31/12/2020, a total of 976 radiocephalic fistulas have been performed. The 15.

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Article Synopsis
  • * Lactobacillus typically resides in the mouth and gut but can act as a pathogen, particularly in immunocompromised patients or those with other health conditions, often requiring complex diagnosis to avoid mistaking contamination for an infection.
  • * The text discusses a specific case of a woman on chronic hemodialysis who developed sepsis due to Lactobacillus casei, highlighting how rare and serious such infections can be in vulnerable populations.
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High-output cardiac failure is a well-known phenomenon of high-flow fistula in hemodialysis patients. The definition of "high flow" is varied and almost always connected to proximal arteriovenous fistulas (AVF). High flow access is a condition in which hemodynamics is affected by a greater rate of blood flow required for hemodialysis and this can compromise circulatory dynamics, particularly in the elderly in the context of pre-existing heart disease.

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Dysfunctional AVF represents one of the leading causes of morbidity in the hemodialysis population, with venous stenosis-related dysfunction being the most common underlying problem. Cephalic arch is a well-known site for the development of stenosis, especially in patients with brachiocephalic fistulas. The pathophysiology of cephalic arch stenosis (CAS) is still being investigated and various contributing factors have been suggested.

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Currently, CEUS (Contrast-Enhanced UltraSound) is used in the evaluation of different organs and systems. It offers valuable information about vascular disease, both on a macro- and a micro-vascular level, and has a series of well-established applications in the monitoring of adult patients; official guidelines and recommendations are also available. Its use in a nephrological setting is constantly growing thanks to the lack of nephrotoxicity of the contrast agent, the absence of ionizing radiation and the possibility of characterizing focal pathologies, for diagnosis and in clinical practice.

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The use of a preoperative echocolordoppler improves the clinical evaluation because provides anatomical and hemodynamic information that make it an important tool in planning vascular access strategy. The preoperative ultrasound study of the vessels can significantly reduce the failure rate and the incidence of complications of vascular access. We describe the experience of our center, lasting 10-year, where the ultrasound assessment was performed in all patients before the creation of vascular access.

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Arteriovenous access ischemic steal is a fairly uncommon complication associated with the creation of a vascular access for hemodialysis, which can sometimes cause potentially devastating complications, with permanent disability. Several old names for this syndrome have now been replaced by two new denominations: Hemodialysis Access-Induced Distal Ischemia (HAIDI) and Distal Hypoperfusion Ischemic Syndrome (DHIS). Clinically, we distinguish between the Peripheral Hypoperfusion Syndrome, which can cause gangrene of the fingers, and the Monomelic Syndrome, characterized by low incidence and by the presence of neurological dysfunctions.

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The aging of the uremic population, the increasingly common use of anticoagulants, antiplatelet agents e heparin, during hemodialysis, can expose our patients to a greatest risk of bleeding. Spontaneous retroperitoneal hematomas are a fairly rare and potentially fatal condition. We describe 5 clinical cases of retroperitoneal hemorrhage that we observed during 10 years in our department, focusing on modalities of symptom onset, clinical-laboratory picture and treatment modalities.

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The diagnosis of renal masses has increased in the last decades owing to the widespread use of imaging (ultrasound, computed tomography and magnetic resonance). Majority of the renal masses are detected incidentally on routine ultrasound examination. Solid masses detected on ultrasound require further imaging evaluation with CT and/or MRI for suitable characterization.

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Cocaine, a natural alkaloid derived from the coca plant, is one of the most commonly used illicit drugs. Cocaine abuse causes systemic adverse effects like stroke, myocardic infarction, arterial dissection, vascular thrombosis and rhabdomyolysis. Cocaine use is, also, associated with renal complications such as acute kidney injury, vasculitis, acute interstitial nephritis, chronic kidney disease, malignant hypertension with thrombotic microangiopathy.

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Crossed fused renal ectopia is a rare congenital anomaly, and is mostly detected incidentally. A 45-year-old man, during investigation for recurrent abdominal pain, was found to have an empty left renal fossa and right crossed renal ectopia with fusion on ultrasonography. In the present case, there were no abnormalities and/or alteration of the renal function.

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Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have a higher incidence of cardiovascular (acute and chronic) events, which in turn have an increased risk of progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) Inhibition of neprilysin, in addition to offering a new therapeutic target in patients with heart failure, could represent a potential improvement strategy in cardiovascular and renal outcome of patients with CKD. Inhibition of neprilysin by inhibiting the breakdown of natriuretic peptides, increases their bioavailability resulting in an increase in diuresis and sodium excretion and, in addition to exerting an inhibition of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone (RAAS) system. Inhibition of RAAS, in turn, generates a series of counter-regulations that can balance the adverse effects present in CKD and heart failure (HF).

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Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (CT) is a syndrome characterized by an acute and transient left ventricular dysfunction, electrocardiographic abnormalities suggestive of acute coronary syndrome, chest pain and/or dyspnea, left ventricular mid-apical segments akinesia and normal coronary angiography. It is mainly observed in postmenopausal women after an intense physical or mental stress. The course is usually favourable but sometimes severe complications occur.

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As a consequence of the central role of the arteriovenous fistula for dialysis (AVF) in the clinical management of the dialysis patient the necessity to limit the puncture-related complications to extend as much as possible the life of the vascular access. Accordingly, the AVF needling technique has gained growing attention. Alongside the traditional rope ladder (RL) puncture method, the buttonhole technique (BH) is increasingly popular; this technique employs the same cannulation sites of AVF in every dialysis associated with the use of dull needles to minimize vessels damage.

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A functioning vascular access is a critical requirement to improve the quality of life in hemodialysis patients, so monitoring and surveillance of vascular access play key roles in identifying all dysfunctions and reducing the huge economic cost as well as adequacy of dialysis.In our five-year experience, a study protocol has been used and improved with the help of ultrasonography.Doppler ultrasound is an excellent and sensitive modality for hemodialysis access evaluation, one of techniques employed for arteriovenous fistulae (AVF) study, not only as a preoperative tool, but also in post-operative monitoring of AVF maturation.

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Aneurysms (AN) and pseudoaneurysms are among the complications of vascular access. AN is a focal area of expansion, concentric or eccentric, with the wall consistency the same as all elements of the vessel wall (intima, media and adventitia). Pseudoaneurysm, or false aneurysm, is a blood harvesting without vascular wall, it is characterized by a reactive capsule of connective tissue that delimits it.

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Metformin is a common medication used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, especially in obese subjects. Clinical studies show that, in addition to the lowering effect of blood glucose, metformin reduces cardiovascular risk, does not induce weight gain and additionally, provides a unique safety strategy and efficacy in patients with diabetes and heart disease. However, this treatment is not without risks.

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The horseshoe kidney is a congenital anatomical defect of the kidney that occurs in 0,25% of the population and is generally characterized by the fusion of the lower poles of the two kidneys through an isthmus and to which may be associated with urogenital and renal vascular anomalies. Asymptomatic in 1/3 of the cases and, most of time, accidentally discovered during a radiological examination, promotes nephrolithiasis, ureteropelvic junction obstruction, hydronephrosis, vesicoureteral reflux and pyelonephritis. We report two cases of patients with kidney horseshoe, characterized by the abrupt onset of a septic state with oligo-anuric acute renal failure, electrolyte and acid-base abnormalities, rapid decay of the general conditions, with detection of nephrolithiasis, hydronephrosis and acute pyelonephritis and whose clinical management resulted in a significant and synergistic nefro-urology involvment.

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Aneurysms are a common and often difficult complication seen with arteriovenous vascular access for haemodialysis. The purpose of this narrative review is to define and describe the scale of the problem and suggested therapeutic strategies. A narrative review of the published literature illustrated by individual cases is presented with the aim of summarising the relevant literature.

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Primary bladder neck obstruction (PBNO) was first described in men by Marion in 1933. The precise cause of PBNO has not been clearly elucidated. This paper review the theories on etiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation and treatments for PBNO.

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Radical cystectomy with urinary diversion is considered the gold standard treatment for bladder cancer. We report a case of 66-years-old male with long term complications, after radical cystectomy and an ileal neobladder according to Hautmann. He developed uroseptic episodes, stones, post-void residual, stenosis of the uretero-neobladder anastomosis, metabolic acidosis and progressive deterioration of renal function.

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Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is considered the gold standard for vascular access in hemodialysis, even in elderly patients. Malfunction of AVF is the first cause of hospitalization in the HD population, with a correlated increase in costs. For the monitoring and surveillance of fistulas, the 2006 K/DOQI workgroup recommends physical examination, direct flow measurement, Doppler ultrasonography and recirculation (by a non-urea-based dilutional method).

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