title: Effect of online haemodialysis vascular access flow evaluation and pre-emptive intervention on the frequency of access thrombosis.
abstract: Introduction. Guidelines advocate surveillance of vascular access to reduce incidences of thrombosis. However, the value of online vascular access flow monitoring is still under debate. Methods. Through a systematic literature search, the effect of online access flow surveillance combined with pre-emptive intervention on thrombosis frequency is reviewed. Results. Due to methodological differences, adequate comparison of the individual study results is not possible. Moreover, the methodological quality of most of the included studies is not suitable for an adequate statistical analysis of the results. Conclusion. Until now, there is no conclusive evidence that online access flow evaluation has a significant effect on the rate of thrombosis. Future large-scale studies with adequate study design, adequate surveillance and intervention protocols and, possibly, better pre-emptive intervention alternative(s) are necessary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology.
authors.forename: Edwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wijnen
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology.
authors.forename: Frank M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: van der Sande
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery , University Hospital Maastricht , Maastricht , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jan H M
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Tordoir
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology.
authors.forename: Jeroen P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Kooman
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology.
authors.forename: Karel M L
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Leunissen
keywords: access survival; vascular access; vascular access flow; vascular access surveillance; vascular access thrombosis