News & Events
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Contents:
Study Suggests a Lack of Utilization of Timely Kidney Transplants
A “timely living donor kidney transplant” refers to when a patient receives a kidney from a living donor either before beginning dialysis or within a year of beginning dialysis. Research links timely transplants to better outcomes and higher survival rates for patients. A new study indicates there has been no increase in the utilization of this transplant method since 2006. Scientists from the Mayo Clinic and the University of Michigan studied the data of over 68,000 patients who received living donor transplants between 2000 and 2012. Results showed that while timely kidney transplants increased between 2000 and 2006, there was no increase after 2006. Data also indicated that less than two-thirds of the patients receive [...]
Study Shows CDC Intervention Tools Decrease Infection Rates for Hemodialysis Patients
Bloodstream infections are the second leading cause of death for hemodialysis patients. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) prevention tools, also called the Core Interventions, provide dialysis facilities with a guide on how to prevent bloodstream infections. A recent study found that dialysis facilities that implemented CDC’s infection prevention tools such as improving staff hygiene and increasing patient education on better catheter maintenance, had a 44 percent decrease in bloodstream infections for patients. These resources are free and available to anyone on the CDC’s website.
What Is Advance Care Planning And Why Is It Important For Dialysis Patients?
By Dr. Prayus Tailor, Nephrology Associates I am a nephrologist. About five years ago, my father had a sudden cardiac arrest in front of me. I was able to quickly initiate CPR. By the time the ambulance arrived, he had regained consciousness. He lived for another two years, but unfortunately became critically ill after developing leukemia. An infection had overtaken his body. He was then in the intensive care unit (ICU) on multiple antibiotics and drugs to treat the infection and keep his blood pressure up so that his organs could continue to get blood flow. His kidneys started failing quickly. I remember the ICU team calling me and telling me he was not doing [...]
