Instauración de la técnica de buttonhole como alternativa de punción para las fístulas arteriovenosas. Experiencia de un centro en 3 años

Laura Baena, José L. Merino, Blanca Bueno, Beatriz Martín, Verónica Sánchez, Luca Caserta, Beatriz Espejo, Patricia Domínguez, Alicia Gómez, Vicente Paraíso

The buttonhole (BH) puncture technique for arteriovenous fistulas is an alternative to the classical staggered puncture. We present 3years' results incorporating the BH puncture technique for arteriovenous fistulas in our dialysis unit. Twenty-two patients were started on BH technique, 15 men and 7 women (mean age: 62 years; SD: 12), with time spent on dialysis when starting the BH technique of 34 months (SD: 34, median: 27, range: 3-136). Seven patients received acenocoumarol and 9 antiplatelet agents. The vascular access median time at the beginning of the technique was 27 months (range: 3-252). Between 5 and 8 consecutive dialysis sessions were necessary to achieve a proper tunnel puncture. No patient suffered major complications. The average time on BH technique until December 2015 was 12 months (SD: 10, median: 9, range: 1-45). By the end of the study, 5patients were performing self-puncture. Haemostasis times post-dialysis were reduced from 18.6min (SD: 8, prior to the BH technique), to 12.2minutes (SD: 3 after BH) (P=.0005). The BH technique is an alternative puncture technique for dialysis patients. Self-puncture and reduction in hemostasis time are potential beneficial aspects. A greater diffusion of this technique in the hemodialysis units would allow it to be better applied. A highly motivated nursing staff is key and a necessary condition for its implementation.