Ultrasound Location of Oscillating Shear Stress in Dialysis Fistulae
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Can Doppler ultrasound be used to identify regions of oscillatory wall shear stress within Vascular Access Arterio-Venous Fistula (AVF): A comparison with Computational Flow Dynamics (CFD). (Student Study)
IRAS ID
195210
Contact name
Janice Tsui
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
UCLH NHS Foundation Trust
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
REC Ref, 16/NI/0138
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 31 days
Research summary
This study aims to improve our understanding of blood flow in the veins and arteries of patients receiving haemodialysis, which is a treatment for kidney failure. If successful it may lead to the development of new surveillance methods for these patients, which may reduce complications commonly associated with long term treatment.
Patients who require haemodialysis often have a fistula formed by a surgeon. This is an artificially created connection between the veins and the arteries, usually in the arm. It is the blood flow through this region that this study will focus on.
Three dimensional (3D) computer models of the patient’s blood vessels will be constructed and used to make complex calculations about the behaviour of the blood flow. The information collected from the computer models will be compared to data collected using ultrasound imaging, which uses sound waves to visualise the blood vessels and measure the blood flow.
The 3D models will be based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, which use powerful magnets to take detailed images of the blood vessels.
The information collected will be used to help develop new ultrasound scanning techniques, which may identify potential problems with the blood flow, which put certain patients at increased risk of their fistula failing. Identifying these patients earlier will allow for corrective action to be taken in a more timely manner.
The MRI scans and the ultrasound scans will be conducted at the Royal Free hospital and each volunteer will receive an MRI scan and an Ultrasound scan at the start of the study as well as follow up ultrasound scans at 6 months and 12 months.
Patients receiving regular haemodialysis will be eligible to participate in the study as long as they have a well functioning dialysis fistula, and are healthy enough to have an MRI scan.
REC name
HSC REC B
REC reference
16/NI/0138
Date of REC Opinion
4 Jul 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion