Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39080223›Full record

ArticleJournal of nephrology2025

Insights into the real-world practice of vascular access care pathways in Italy: data from a national survey.

Laura Buzzi, Ivano Baragetti, Michela Maria Barbagallo, Antonio Marciello, Massimo Lodi, Walter Morale, Marcello Napoli, Giacomo Forneris

Abstract read
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Article in Journal of nephrology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Laura BuzziNephrology and Dialysis Unit, Bassini Hospital, ASST Nord Milano, Cinisello Balsamo, Milan, Italy. laura.buzzi@asst-nordmilano.it.
Ivano BaragettiNephrology and Dialysis Unit, Bassini Hospital, ASST Nord Milano, Cinisello Balsamo, Milan, Italy.
Michela Maria BarbagalloNephrology and Dialysis Unit, Bassini Hospital, ASST Nord Milano, Cinisello Balsamo, Milan, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0000-1662-0755
Antonio MarcielloNephrology and Dialysis Unit, "Michele E Pietro Ferrero" Hospital, ASLCN2, Verduno, Cuneo, Italy.
Massimo LodiNephrology and Dialysis Unit, Spirito Santo Hospital, ASL Pescara, Pescara, Italy.
Walter MoraleDivision of Nephrology and Dialysis, Modica Hospital, ASP Ragusa, Ragusa, Italy.
Marcello NapoliNephrology Unit V. Fazzi Hospital, Lecce, Italy.
Giacomo FornerisCMID-Nephrology and Dialysis Unit (ERK-Net), Center of Research of Nephrology, Rheumatology and Rare Disease, Coordinating Center of the Network of Rare Disease of Piedmont and Aosta Valley, G. Bosco Hospital and University of Torino, Turin, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundInternational guidelines issued recommendations for vascular access (VA) care for hemodialysis, but there are no registry data regarding this topic in Italy.

methodsA survey consisting of 17 items was sent to all Italian dialysis wards, via the Italian Society of Nephrology (SIN) website, from April to June 2021. The items were defined, discussed and approved by experts in vascular access management within the Italian Society of Nephrology. A total of 124 dialysis units answered, accounting for 14% of all dialysis units. The survey thus encompasses all regions within the country, with some regional variations in terms of adherence.

resultsOne hundred twenty-four facilities provided data, regarding 12,276 patients: 61% had an arteriovenous fistula (AVF), 34% had a central venous catheter (CVC), and 5% had an arteriovenous graft (AVG). Among them, two-thirds of the facilities reported having a vascular access care pathway, formally standardized in 79% of cases. Forty-six % of centers had a fully equipped vascular access care pathway, encompassing preoperative mapping (80%), vascular access setup (71%), arteriovenous fistula maturation monitoring (76%), first-level (80%) and second-level (78%) monitoring, and surgical and/or endovascular treatment of complications (66%). Vascular access monitoring was computerized in 39% of facilities. First-level monitoring (physical examination) was primarily done by nurses in two-thirds of facilities. Of note, 45% of centers had nurses who were skilled in ultrasound-guided cannulation. Quite surprisingly, facilities with less than 100 patients had a greater prevalence of arteriovenous fistulas than those with more than 100 patients (p = 0.0023). A protocolled vascular access care pathway was associated with a higher likelihood of having an arteriovenous fistula (70% AVF vs 42,1% CVC; p = 0.04). The presence in the facility of interventional nephrologists or nurses with ultrasound-guided cannulation skills significantly reduced the prevalence of central venous catheters.

conclusionThese survey data further strengthen the need for formal and shared vascular access monitoring protocols.

Indexed as

Arteriovenous Shunt, SurgicalCatheterization, Central VenousCritical PathwaysPractice Patterns, Physicians'Renal DialysisHealth Care SurveysHumansItalySurveys and QuestionnairesDialysisItalySurveyVascular access

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.