Analysis of the vascular access service for patients on haemodialysis in Livingstone Hospital.

Background: Reliable vascular access is key to sustainable haemodialysis treatment. Guidelines recommend an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) as the preferred modality in preference to arteriovenous grafts (AVGs) or central venous catheters (CVCs). There are limited data on vascular access in sub-Saharan Africa.

Risk factors and outcomes of acute kidney injury in South African critically ill adults: a prospective cohort study.

Background: There is a marked paucity of data concerning AKI in Sub-Saharan Africa, where there is a substantial burden of trauma and HIV.

Methods: Prospective data was collected on all patients admitted to a multi-disciplinary ICU in South Africa during 2017. Development of AKI (before or during ICU admission) was recorded and renal recovery 90 days after ICU discharge was determined.

Vascular calcification is not associated with increased ambulatory central aortic systolic pressure in prevalent dialysis patients.

Introduction: Central aortic systolic pressure (CASP) strongly predicts cardiovascular outcomes. We undertook to measure ambulatory CASP in 74 prevalent dialysis patients using the BPro (HealthStats, Singapore) device. We also determined whether coronary or abdominal aortic calcification was associated with changes in CASP and whether interdialytic CASP predicted ambulatory measurement.