Complex Dialysis Access
EXPERIENCE WITH COMPLEX BYPASSES AND FISTULAS FOR
COMPLEX HEMODIALYSIS ACCESS
Clinical studies and continued research in the area of
complex dialysis access is a mainstay for the vascular
surgery division. In fiscal year 2017, vascular surgeons on
the medical staff realized increasing volumes in referrals
from throughout Texas for complex dialysis access
procedures. The ability to handle the complexity of the
patients needing these procedures and the experience
of the vascular surgeons on the medical staff is known
nationwide to training surgeons interested in completing
a vascular surgery fellowship at Baylor University Medical
Center at Dallas and Baylor Jack and Jane Hamilton
Heart and Vascular Hospital. With the support of an
experienced and certified ultrasonography team for
diagnostic support, vascular surgeons provide a wide array
of surgical interventions. Last year, the team continued
efforts to support the National Kidney Foundation’s
“Fistula First” initiative. Surgeons are proud to be a part
of the national goal of providing fistulas for the End-Stage
Renal Disease patient population and in line with the
goals of the National Kidney Foundation Kidney Disease
Outcomes Quality Initiative (NKF NDOQI)™.
HUMAN ACELLULAR VESSEL (HAV) PHASE
III CLINICAL STUDY
Working closely with Humacyte, a biotechnology and
regenerative medicine company, vascular surgeons on
the medical staff at Baylor Hamilton Heart and Vascular
Hospital are involved in an investigational human
acellular vessel (HAV) Phase III clinical study as a
conduit for hemodialysis in patients with End-Stage Renal
Disease and not candidates for a fistula. As one of the
several national and international trial sites, Baylor Dallas’
HUMANITY trial is one of the largest studies of any
bioengineered vascular tissues to date. According to study
information, HUMACYL may offer a potential safe and
effective alternative for vascular access in hemodialysis
treatment. The Baylor Dallas site primary investigator is
Stephen Hohmann, MD.
*Image courtesy of Merit Medical
ENDOVASCULAR TREATMENT: MINIMALLY
INVASIVE SURGERY
During the past year, vascular surgeons remained on the
forefront of the Super HeRO, HeRO, and Ally related
dialysis access devices via Merit Medical Systems. Super
HeRo was released in late 2016 in the United States and
is now commercially available. Research associated with
the devices occurred within Baylor Hamilton Heart
and Vascular Hospital operating suites. This provides
an option for patients who have been told that they do
not have any further options. Vascular surgeon on the
medical staff and study investigator involved in HeRO,
Hung Chu, MD, says, “HeRO is indicating that there
is a decreased risk as it avoids high-risk dialysis access
catheters. HeRO offers an option for continued dialysis
access for end-stage renal disease. Vascular surgeons
at Baylor Dallas will continue to work closely with a
multidisciplinary team on this evolving procedure. Patient
outcomes are monitored closely and the study oversight
that continued in fiscal year 2017 will remain in place.”
Program Director, Vascular Surgery Fellowship Program – Baylor University Medical Center
“Teaching, research and innovation remain at the core of our mission to advance patient
care and outcomes in vascular surgery. The HAV Phase III clinical trial is just one example of
our continuation of that history and tradition.”
Stephen Hohmann, MD, FACS
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