Sunday, February 7, 2010

Blunt AVF Needles.....(Part 4)

Blunt AVF needling......

The ArterioVenous Fistula (AVF) has been the "lifeline" for haemodialysis treatment modality. The use of AVF is the Gold Standard for blood access in chronic haemodialysis.The use of sharp AVF needles have been the only needles known to haemodialysis widely used.

Over the years, the needs to explore other less painful and traumatised methods of cannulation were overwhelming. Countless complications and damages to the AVF and patients are due to inexperience, abuse and the indifferent attitude shown by the treatment practitioners are abound. The ignorance, lack of knowledge and interest by the patients themselves too share part of the blame. 

Efforts were made in the West and Japan to find better solutions to avoid AVF complications such anuerysms, stenosis, infiltrations and host of many others which have resulted shorter than expected lifespan of AVF and unnecessry avoidable hospitalisations of patients.

Blunt AVF needles has been in used in the West and Japan for over 25 years with much success. It is high time that we too explore this method of cannulation and give it due consideration.

Patients using blunt AVF needles had indicated that the procedure is practically painless than that of sharp AVF needles. This too has reduced the extreme cannulation stress experienced by patients with cannulation problems.

Besides reduced incidences of patients having missed haemodialysis treatment due to complications of cannulation problems, less hospitalisation and a longer lifespan of the AVF, the treatment practitioners experienced a faster cannulation time, less stress due to poor cannulations, less possibility of stick injuries and higher satisfaction of succesful cannulation.

So what is "blunt AVF needle"........

to be contd.......

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