Impact of quality improvement initiatives to improve CKD referral patterns: a systematic review protocol.

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global-health problem. A significant proportion of referrals to nephrologists for CKD management are early and guideline-discordant, which may lead to an excess number of referrals and increased wait-times. Various initiatives have been tested to increase the proportion of guideline-concordant referrals and decrease wait times.

Salvage of Malfunctioning Peritoneal Dialysis Catheters: An Algorithm for Recanalization and Repositioning.

A peritoneal dialysis catheter salvage algorithm was developed and performed for 40 patients with documented catheter malfunction (obstruction and/or malposition) referred to the interventional radiology suite. This procedure utilized a metallic stiffener for repositioning and rotating dual guide wires for recanalization. A retrospective analysis of 35 cases of fluoroscopic manipulation showed that in 83% of the cases, the catheters were successfully repositioned and/or recanalized, and in 59%, they remained patent at 30 days.

Effectiveness of a simple intervention for prevention of catheter-associated urinary tract infections on a medical hospital unit.

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTI) are one of the most common hospital-acquired infections with 80% as a result of urinary catheterisation.

Aim/objective: This study examined the impact of a simple intervention consisting of a daily chart reminder in patients with indwelling urinary catheters (IUC) on the duration of catheter use and the incidence of catheter-associated UTIs (CAUTIs).

Methods: The trial used a prospective pretest-post-test design with a control group over a six-month period conducted on two medical units of a community teaching hospital.

Electronic Advice Request System for Nephrology in Alberta: Pilot Results and Implementation.

Background: Residents of rural areas of Alberta face significant barriers regarding access to specialist care, resulting in delays in provision of optimal care. Electronic referral and consultation systems are promising tools for facilitating timely access to specialist care, especially for people living in rural locations.

Objective: To report our initial experience with the launch of an electronic advice request system for ambulatory kidney care in Alberta, Canada.

Buttonhole versus rope-ladder cannulation of arteriovenous fistulas for hemodialysis: a systematic review.

Background: The buttonhole technique is an alternative method of cannulating the arteriovenous fistula (AVF) in hemodialysis (HD), frequently used for home HD patients. However, the balance of risks and benefits of the buttonhole compared with the rope-ladder technique is uncertain.

Study Design: A systematic review of randomized trials and observational studies (case reports, case series, studies without a control group, non-English studies, and abstracts were excluded).