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Aims and Objectives: To evaluate the accuracy of traditional clinical predialytic fluid assessment by renal nurses and the efficacy of 2 additional fluid assessment methods focussing on the potential preventative effect for intradialytic hypotension (IDH)., Background: Predialytic fluid assessment remains a daily challenge for renal nurses, when aiming for adverse event free haemodialysis treatments. Adding further objective parameters obtained through noninvasive methods into pre- and intradialytic fluid assessment could potentially improve health outcomes for haemodialysis patients., Design: Comparative, observational study of three fluid assessment methods on their reliability on volume status and correlation to clinical outcomes., Methods: Clinical predialytic nursing fluid assessments in 30 haemodialysis patients were compared with additional initial bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) measurements, and 3 serial intradialytic ultrasound scans of the inferior vena cava (IVC-US) performed by a second renal nurse concurrently during the same session. A retrospective data analysis compared all measurements in each individual for the predictive value for IDH. A STROBE checklist for observational cohort studies was used for the reporting of results., Results: Seven subjects experienced episodes of symptomatic intradialytic hypotension (S-IDH), which would have been anticipated by IVC-US or by BIS in 5 patients (71%). Using an algorithm to predict IDH would have provided a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 95%., Conclusion: Both additional fluid assessment methods would have provided critical information before and during each haemodialysis session. Therefore, we consider them as being potentially effective for the prevention of intradialytic hypotension, with IVC-US being similar to BIS., Relevance to Clinical Practice: Traditional clinical nursing fluid assessment methods in haemodialysis patients do not provide sufficient information to prevent episodes of IDH. Additional objective fluid assessment methods are useful and likely to lead to improved health outcomes in HD patients when applied by renal nurses. A combination of IVC-US, MAP and BIS has potential to reduce the risk of IDH events in HD patients significantly., (© 2019 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Aims and Objectives: To measure the prevalence of symptomatic (S-IDH) and asymptomatic intradialytic hypotension (A-IDH) or postdialysis overhydration in a satellite haemodialysis clinic in Western Australia., Background: Intradialytic hypotension is one of the most common side effects of haemodialysis caused by ultrafiltration provoking a temporary volume depletion. The prevalence of asymptomatic hypotension during dialysis has been rarely reported, but is considered to have the same negative consequences as symptomatic hypotension on various end organs like the brain and the gastrointestinal tract., Design: Observational study on a retrospective 3-month period of nursing recorded fluid-related adverse events., Methods: Data collection on the occurrence of S-IDH and A-IDH during a total of 2,357 haemodialysis treatments in 64 patients. Body weight of patients at the time of cessation of treatment was recorded, and patients, whose weight exceeded their ideal body weight by at least 0.5 kg, were classified as overhydrated. Data analysis was performed using spss version 24 software., Results: Symptomatic intradialytic hypotension was the most common adverse event measured in this cohort, and occurred during 221 (9.4%) of all treatments, whereas asymptomatic intradialytic hypotension occurred in 88 (3.7%) of all treatments. The total occurrence of intradialytic hypotension was 13.1%, and symptomatic was observed in 30 patients, implying that nearly every second patient had at least one symptomatic episode within 3 months. Overhydration occurred in a total of 103 (4.4%) of all treatments, and involved 17 patients., Conclusions: Symptomatic and asymptomatic intradialytic hypotension were the most commonly observed adverse events in this cohort; overhydration occurrence was considerably less common., Relevance to Clinical Practice: The high occurrence of hypotension-related events demonstrates that ultrafiltration treatment goals in satellite dialysis clinics are sometimes overestimated, resulting in regular significant symptomatic episodes for the patient. Raising the awareness of the prevalence of IDH amongst renal nurses could be an essential initial step before collectively preventative strategies in haemodialysis satellite units are implemented., (© 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Introduction: Ultrasound of the inferior vena cava (IVC-US) has been used to estimate intravascular volume status and fluid removal during a hemodialysis session. Usually, renal nurses rely on other, imprecise methods to determine ultrafiltration. To date, no study has examined whether renal nurses can reliably perform ultrasound for volume assessment and for potential prevention of intradialytic hypotension. This pilot study aimed to determine if a renal nurse could master the skill of performing and correctly interpreting Point of Care Ultrasound on patients receiving hemodialysis., Methods: After receiving theoretical training and performing 100 training scans, a renal nurse performed 60 ultrasound scans on 10 patients. These were categorized by the nurse into hypovolemic, euvolemic, or hypervolemic through measurement of the maximal diameter and degree of collapse of the IVC. Scans were subsequently assessed for adequacy and quality by two sonologists, who were blinded to each other's and the nurse's results., Findings: The interrater reliability of 60 scans was good, with intraclass correlation 0.79 (95% confidence interval (CI) =0.63-0.87) and with a good interrater agreement for the following estimation of intravascular volume (Cohen's weighted Kappa κ w  = 0.62), when comparing the nurse to an expert sonographer., Discussion: A renal nurse can reliably perform ultrasound of the IVC in hemodialysis patients, obtaining high quality scans for volume assessment of hemodialysis patients. This novel approach could be more routinely applied by other renal nurses to obtain objective measures of patient volume status in the dialysis setting., (© 2017 Commonwealth of Australia. Hemodialysis International © International Society for Hemodialysis International.)

Encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis is a complication of peritoneal dialysis characterized by persistent, intermittent, or recurrent adhesive bowel obstruction. Here we examined the incidence, predictors, and outcomes of encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (peritoneal fibrosis) by multivariate logistic regression in incident peritoneal dialysis patients in Australia and New Zealand. Matched case-control analysis compared the survival of patients with controls equivalent for age, gender, diabetes, and time on peritoneal dialysis. Of 7618 patients measured over a 13-year period, encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis was diagnosed in 33, giving an incidence rate of 1.8/1000 patient-years. The respective cumulative incidences of peritoneal sclerosis at 3, 5, and 8 years were 0.3, 0.8, and 3.9%. This condition was independently predicted by younger age and the duration of peritoneal dialysis, but not the rate of peritonitis. Twenty-six patients were diagnosed while still on peritoneal dialysis. Median survival following diagnosis was 4 years and not statistically different from that of 132 matched controls. Of the 18 patients who died, only 7 were attributed directly to peritoneal sclerosis. Our study shows that encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis is a rare condition, predicted by younger age and the duration of peritoneal dialysis. The risk of death is relatively low and not appreciably different from that of competing risks for mortality in matched dialysis control patients.

Background and Objectives: The aim of the investigation presented here was to compare the rates, causes, and timing of cardiovascular (CV) death in incident peritoneal dialysis (PD) and hemodialysis (HD) patients., Design, Setting, Participants, & Measurements: The study included all adult Australian and New Zealand patients commencing dialysis between January 1, 1997 and December 31, 2007. Rates of and times to CV death were compared by incident rate ratios, cumulative incidence, and multivariable Cox proportional hazards model analyses. Dialysis modality was included in the model as a time-varying covariate, and a competing risks approach was used to obtain cause-specific hazard ratios., Results: Of the 24,587 patients who commenced dialysis (first treatment PD n = 6521; HD n = 18,066) during the study, 5669 (21%) died from CV causes [PD 2044 (28%) versus HD 3625 (21%)]. The incidence rates of CV mortality in PD and HD patients were 9.99 and 7.96 per 100 patient-years, respectively (incidence rate ratio PD versus HD, 1.25; 95% confidence interval 1.12 to 1.32). PD was consistently associated with an increased hazard of CV death compared with HD after 1 yr of treatment. This increased risk in PD patients was largely accounted for by an increased risk of death due to myocardial infarction., Conclusions: Dialysis modality is significantly associated with the risk, causes, and timing of CV death experienced by ESRD patients in Australia and New Zealand.

Background: Recovery of dialysis-independent renal function in long-term dialysis patients has not been studied extensively. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of dialysis modality on the likelihood, timing and durability of recovery of dialysis-independent renal function., Methods: The study reviewed all patients in Australia and New Zealand who commenced dialysis for treatment of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) between 1963 and 2006. Dialysis modality was assigned at 90 days. A supplementary analysis was also conducted using a contemporary cohort that included data on comorbidities, smoking and eGFR at dialysis onset., Results: During the study period, 15 912 individuals received peritoneal dialysis (PD) and 23 658 received haemodialysis (HD). Renal recovery occurred in 176 (1.1%) PD and 244 (1.0%) HD patients. Using multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analyses, dialysis modality was not independently predictive of time to renal recovery (HR 0.92, 95% CI 0.76-1.13, P = 0.4). Recovery was significantly more likely in patients with higher baseline eGFR, with no hypertension or peripheral vascular disease, and with certain causes of kidney failure (autoimmune renal disease, haemolytic uraemic syndrome, interstitial nephritis, obstructive uropathy, paraproteinaemia and renovascular nephrosclerosis). Recovery was less likely in Maori/Pacific Islanders and polycystic kidney disease. Among patients who recovered, 328 (78%) subsequently experienced renal death, mostly within the first year. The duration of renal recovery was not associated with initial dialysis modality (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.50- 1.32)., Conclusions: Dialysis modality is not associated with the likelihood, timing or durability of spontaneous recovery of dialysis-independent renal function in patients thought to have ESRD.

Background: The aim of the present investigation is to compare rates, types, causes, and timing of infectious death in incident peritoneal dialysis (PD) and hemodialysis (HD) patients in Australia and New Zealand., Study Design: Observational cohort study using the Australian and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry data., Setting & Participants: The study included all patients starting dialysis therapy between April 1, 1995, and December 31, 2005., Predictor: Dialysis modality., Outcomes & Measurements: Rates of and time to infectious death were compared by using Poisson regression, Kaplan-Meier, and competing risks multivariate Cox proportional hazards model analyses., Results: 21,935 patients started dialysis therapy (first treatment PD, n = 6,020; HD, n = 15,915) during the study period, and 1,163 patients (5.1%) died of infectious causes (PD, 529 patients; 7.6% versus HD, 634 patients; 4.2%). Incidence rates of infectious mortality in PD and HD patients were 2.8 and 1.7/100 patient-years, respectively (incidence rate ratio PD versus HD, 1.66; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.47 to 1.86). After performing competing risks multivariate Cox analyses allowing for an interaction between time on study and modality because of identified nonproportionality of hazards, PD consistently was associated with increased hazard of death from infection compared with HD after 6 months of treatment (<6 months hazard ratio [HR], 1.08; 95% CI, 0.76 to 1.54; 6 months to 2 years HR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.09 to 1.59; 2 to 6 years HR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.26 to 1.80; >6 years HR, 2.76; 95% CI, 1.76 to 4.33). This increased risk of infectious death in PD patients was largely accounted for by an increased risk of death caused by bacterial or fungal peritonitis., Limitations: Patients were not randomly assigned to their initial dialysis modality. Residual confounding and coding bias could not be excluded., Conclusions: Dialysis modality selection significantly influences risks, types, causes, and timing of fatal infections experienced by patients with end-stage kidney disease in Australia and New Zealand.

Background: High transporter status is associated with reduced survival of patients receiving peritoneal dialysis (PD). This may be due primarily to the development of complications related to the PD process, in which case the survival disadvantage may not persist following transfer to haemodialysis (HD). In this study, we aimed to assess the impact of peritoneal membrane transporter status on patient survival and the likelihood of return to PD following transfer from PD to HD., Methods: The Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant (ANZDATA) Registry was searched to identify all patients between 1 April 1999 and 31 March 2004 who had received PD and subsequently transferred to HD, in whom an incident 4 h dialysate: plasma creatinine ratio was recorded. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify factors significantly associated with patient and technique survival after commencement of HD., Results: A total of 918 patients were included in the analysis. On multivariate Cox regression analysis there was no difference in survival between transport groups relative to the reference group of low average transporters (adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 0.71, 95% CI 0.42-1.19, P = 0.19, HR 0.94, 95% CI 0.63-1.38, P = 0.73 and HR 0.24, 95% CI 0.06-1.01, P = 0.051 for high, high average and low transporter groups, respectively). Significant predictors of mortality were duration of PD more than 22 months (HR 2.32, 95% CI 1.24-4.33, P = 0.01), increasing age, late referral to a nephrologist and a history of diabetes mellitus. The likelihood of returning to PD was increased if initial PD technique failure was due to mechanical complications compared with all other causes of failure [HR 3.65 (95% CI 2.78-4.79) P < 0.001] and decreased with higher body mass index [HR 0.97 per kg/m(2) (95% CI 0.94-0.99), P = 0.01] and the 4 h dialysate: plasma creatinine ratio considered as a continuous variable [4 h D:P Cr; HR 0.32 per unit (95% CI 0.12-0.89), P = 0.03]., Conclusions: The survival disadvantage associated with high peritoneal membrane transport status during PD treatment does not persist following transfer to HD. Early transfer to HD may be beneficial in this patient group.

Background: Sleep disturbances, in particular restless legs or limb movements, during the night are often reported by uremic patients. However, polysomnography (PSG) studies have never been carried out to confirm the actual occurrence of these disorders and the association with other objective and self-reported sleep-wake data., Methods: Forty-eight participants were subjected to a 2-day PSG. These data on sleep including periodic limb movements, which are associated with restless legs, were correlated with clinical observations, quality of sleep-wake and life questionnaires, and with biochemical and neurographical measures., Results: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) was observed in 58.3% of the patients and periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) occurred in 70.8% of the patients. PLMD was revealed polysomnographically in almost 90% of the RLS patients. Patients with both PLMD and RLS had significantly poorer sleep quality than those with neither disorder or with PLMD alone, both in terms of self-reported data and the PSG. Quality of life was significantly worse in patients with RLS and PLMD compared to those patients with neither disorder. PLMD patients also tended to have a lower quality of life. All other metabolic measures and the results of a nerve conduction test were not correlated with RLS and/or PLMD., Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of severe RLS and PLMD in the present sample of uraemia patients. Nearly all RLS patients had severe PLMD. RLS (in combination with PLMD) in dialysis is associated with poor sleep quality, insomnia complaints, depression and emotional distress. Our results suggest that PLMD per se is also clinically relevant.