Course Summary

The kidneys regulate blood pressure, maintain blood pH levels, excrete metabolic by-products, produce erythropoietin, and support bone health. When this function fails, dialysis may be used as treatment following an assessment of the patient’s clinical presentation. Vascular access for hemodialysis can be achieved through arteriovenous fistula, arteriovenous graft, and central venous catheter. Complications of hemodialysis treatment include hypotension, cramps, nausea and vomiting, headache, chest pain, back pain, itching, fever and chills.

Course Format

Homestudy

Course Syllabus

• I.       Introduction
• II.      Renal Disease and Replacement Therapy
  • 1.      Biomarkers
  • 2.      Acute Renal Failure
  • 3.      Chronic Kidney Disease
• III.      Preparing the Patient for Hemodialysis
  • 1.      Vascular Access Devices
  • 2.      Hemodialysis Catheter
  • 3.      Arteriovenous Fistula (AVF) Procedure
  • 4.      Arteriovenous Graft (AV graft) Procedure
  • 5.      Vascular Access Selection
  • 6.      Dialysate
  • 7.      Dialysis Machine
• IV.      Process of Hemodialysis
  • 1.      Dialysis Duration and Frequency
  • 2.      TIME Trial
  • 3.      Home Hemodialysis
  • 4.      Nocturnal Hemodialysis
• V.        Hemodialysis Complications
  • 1.      Hypotension
  • 2.      Chest Pain
  • 3.      Dialysis Disequilibrium
  • 4.      Hemolysis
• VI.       Vascular Access Device Complications
  • 1.      Venous Needle Dislodgement
  • 2.      Infection
• VII.      Case Study: End-stage Renal Dialysis and Rural Health
• VIII.    Summary

Authors

Noah H. Carpenter, MD

Dr. Noah Carpenter is a Thoracic and Peripheral Vascular Surgeon. He completed his Bachelor of Science in chemistry and medical school and training at the University of Manitoba. Dr. Carpenter completed surgical residency and fellowship at the University of Edmonton and Affiliated Hospitals in Edmonton, Alberta, and an additional Adult Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery fellowship at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. He has specialized in microsurgical techniques, vascular endoscopy, laser and laparoscopic surgery in Brandon, Manitoba and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and in Colorado, Texas, and California. Dr. Carpenter has an Honorary Doctorate of Law from the University of Calgary, and was appointed a Citizen Ambassador to China, and has served as a member of the Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada, the Canadian College of Health Service Executives, the Science Institute of the Northwest Territories, Canada Science Council, and the International Society of Endovascular Surgeons, among others. He has been an inspiration to youth, motivating them to understand the importance of achieving higher education.