Study of Blood Flow Sounds to Detect Complications in Vascular Access for Hemodialysis in Adults with End Stage Renal Disease

What this Trial Is About

This research focuses on patients with end-stage renal disease ESRD, a condition affecting many people worldwide, especially as populations age and patients live longer on renal replacement therapy. Most patients with ESRD undergo hemodialysis HD, which requires a reliable vascular access VA such as an arteriovenous fistula AVF or an arteriovenous graft AVG. The study aims to evaluate the use of vascular access sound recordings and analysis to monitor VA function and predict complications like stenosis or failure, helping to improve patient outcomes. The study involves two groups of ESRD patients needing VA surgery for hemodialysis one group receiving AVF creation, where a vein and artery are surgically connected in the forearm, and another receiving AVG creation, which uses an artificial plastic tube to connect an artery to a vein. This is a prospective observational study where VA sounds and Doppler ultrasound examinations will be collected over time to assess vascular remodeling and access function. Participants will have their vascular access sounds recorded and undergo ultrasound exams from day 7 after surgery up to 24 months. Researchers will monitor changes in sound characteristics and blood flow volume to evaluate VA maturation and function. The primary outcome measure is the low-high peak ratio LHPR of the sound, tracked over the study period. This approach aims to provide a non-invasive method to predict VA complications and improve management in ESRD patients on hemodialysis.

Acoustic Analysis of VA Sounds