Key Points for Patient Safety in Dialysis Access

Abstract

For more than 15 years, patient safety has been an issue in different domains of medicine. There is evidence for this subject and also a great need for information. First, we should be familiar with the basic terminology such as the relationship between adverse events and errors, and understand the variations of error. In patient management, besides skills and knowledge (evidence-based medicine), the ability (competence) of healthcare professionals to act and react in unexpected situations is key to prevent and treat adverse events. Not only healthcare professionals should be involved in the process but also healthy people in a way that they understand and patients in a way that they are actively involved. This paper will show how a more general view of patient safety can and should be implemented in the daily work of caregivers dealing with dialysis access in different aspects. A key factor to advance in this subject is to be open-minded and sensualized for this topic. The reader should get an idea of how an institution can create a culture of safety.

A system for preventing internal fistula needle dislodgement: Delphi study and pilot evaluation

“…The most common complications include dialysis disequilibrium syndrome, venous air embolism, hemolysis, internal fistula needle dislodgement (IND), vascular access hemorrhage, significant allergic reactions to the dialyzer or medications, and disruption or contamination of the dialysis water system (Saha & Allon, 2017). Among these, IND (especially at the end of the venous needle) may result in rapid blood loss, causing hemorrhagic shock and even death (Widmer et al, 2015).…”