Effects of Arterial Needle Placement in Arteriovenous Fistula on Dialysis Adequacy of End-Stage Renal Disease Patients Undergoing Maintenance Hemodialysis

Abstract

Objective: The arterial needle placement in arteriovenous fistula (AVF) can either be antegrade (in the direction of blood flow or pointing towards the heart) or retrograde (against the direction of blood flow) while venous needle placement should always be in the same direction as the blood flow. This study determined the effects of arterial needle placement in the arteriovenous fistula on dialysis adequacy of End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis in United Candelaria Doctors Hospital - Nephro Synergies Inc. (UCDHNSI) Hemodialysis Center. Methods: A randomized controlled trial design was used in the study. A total of 20 non-diabetic, non-cardiac patients on maintenance hemodialysis for more than 6 months were randomized either to the intervention group (patients’ AVF were cannulated in a retrograde manner) or the control group (patients’ AVF were cannulated in an antegrade manner). Urea reduction ratio (URR) and Kt/V as well as access recirculation percentage were used to determine dialysis adequacy. Pre-dialysis, in the first 30 minutes of dialysis initiation and post-dialysis blood samples were obtained in each patient in 6 succeeding hemodialysis considering dialyzer reuse up to fifth reuse. Means were compared by independent t-test. Results: The findings of the study revealed that the mean URR and Kt/V of the subjects cannulated in retrograde manner and antegrade manner were 69.35% and 1.45, and 74.65% and 1.70, respectively. The mean access recirculation percentage of the subjects was 4.65% in the intervention group and 3.02% in the control group. There was a significant difference on URR and Kt/V of the subjects using retrograde and antegrade arterial needle placement in 6 succeeding hemodialysis sessions. There was no significant difference on access recirculation percentage of the subjects using retrograde and antegrade arterial needle placement in 6 succeeding hemodialysis sessions. Conclusions: Antegrade arterial needle placement provides more adequate hemodialysis than retrograde arterial needle placement in terms of URR and Kt/V values among non-diabetic, non-cardiac patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis in 6 succeeding hemodialysis sessions. The directions of the arterial needle either retrograde and antegrade did not have significant effects on access recirculation.