Handheld Ultrasound-guided Cannulation of Difficult Haemodialysis Arteriovenous Access by Renal Nurses

Cannulation of complex arteriovenous fistula (AVF) or graft (AVG) is a challenge to renal nurses. Ultrasound (US) guidance on central and peripheral venous access visualisation has been widely adopted in nephrology and shown to reduce complications of vascular interventions. With broader adoption of handheld US devices in clinical services, renal nurses could acquire this point-of-care technique to increase the successful cannulation rate while facilitating confidence build-up during training and practice. We aim to evaluate the use of handheld US on difficult AVF/AVG cannulation in a hospital-based dialysis unit.