Physical and ultrasound examination of arteriovenous fistulae (AVF)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A comparison of clinical assessment and duplex ultrasound assessment using the rule of sixes for determining arteriovenous fistulae maturity
IRAS ID
213280
Contact name
Teun Wilmink
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Heart of England Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 4 months, 20 days
Research summary
Arteriovenous fistulae (AVF) are a surgically created connection between an artery and vein in the arm. They are created in patients with kidney failure for use in dialysis. The blood from the artery flows directly into the vein, causing the vein to become larger and firmer, allowing needles to be put into the vein and blood to be taken out of the body for dialysis.
AVF are the preferred method of access to the blood stream but can stop working for a number of reasons. Before an AVF can be used it must be deemed to be ‘mature’ to reduce the risk of failure.
AVF are assessed for maturity using either, or both, physical assessment and ultrasound assessment. Physical assessments are performed by specialist nurses and involve looking at, feeling and listening to the AVF. Ultrasound assessment involves measuring the size of the vein and quantifying the flow through it. One set of guidelines recommend that an AVF can be deemed as mature if it meets certain ultrasound measurement criteria known as the ‘rule of sixes’.
This study will assess AVF for maturity using physical and ultrasound 'rule of sixes' methods and determine how often these methods are in agreement over whether an AVF is mature. AVF will be followed up after 6 sessions of dialysis and whether they are still working will be recorded. This data will be compared to the initial maturity assessment to determine how well physical assessment and ultrasound assessment can predict AVF survival.
This research is important as AVF are important in patients requiring long term dialysis, therefore their survival is imperative. This research may provide an insight into the most suitable way to assess whether AVF are ready for dialysis, and could result in greater rates of AVF survival, benefiting patients requiring long-term dialysis.
REC name
North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/NW/0861
Date of REC Opinion
14 Dec 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion