Improving Outcomes in Vascular Access: The IMPROVA study. Version 1.1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Improving Outcomes in Vascular Access: The IMPROVA study
IRAS ID
162549
Contact name
Nicholas Inston
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 29 days
Research summary
The IMPROVA study is recruiting patients with end stage renal disease who require arteriovenous fistula formation as a means of haemodialysis access. Arteriovenous fistulas are surgically created joins between an artery and a vein. The current preoperative assessments rely on physical examination complemented by ultrasound measurements of vessel size and position. These tools have been shown to improve success rates for fistula formation however the failure rate remains high at 25%. This means that patients frequently require multiple operations to achieve a working fistula. The IMPROVA study will use novel, non-invasive techniques using blood pressure cuffs (sphygmomanometers) and infra-red light to examine the health of the arteries in an attempt to assist the surgeon in deciding the most appropriate site for fistula formation. Patients will also complete a short questionnaire regarding preoperative hand symptoms as a guide to predicting outcome of fistula success. The results of these investigations will undergo statistical analysis to correlate with the short term outcomes of fistulas.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - South Yorkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/YH/1243
Date of REC Opinion
11 Nov 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion