Significant untapped areas for research and education in the endoAVF field

Robert Jones (Birmingham, UK), Interventional radiologist and president of the Vascular Access Society of Britain and Ireland (VASBI), tells Renal Interventions at the Endovascular Access meeting (EVA; 24–25 June, Patras, Greece) that there are still significant untapped areas for research and education in the endoAVF field.
“Patient selection is a great example,” he says, noting that most of the focus to date in this area has been on vessel mapping and size criteria and the presence of the perforator. More understanding of whether pre-dialysis patients or those already on dialysis will benefit the most from endoAVF is another good example. And recognising recent studies in surgical fistulas that have demonstrated major differences in fistula use and success between ethnic groups, he points out: “We do not have this data for endoAVF.”
Inconsistencies in endpoint definitions are abundant in the literature, he warns. “I think there does need to be some consistency with definitions moving forward so we can make some meaningful comparisons between all these different studies.”
Jones also calls for more focus on cannulation. “[…] that is what is important to the patient. At the end of the day, they are the end user, and whilst we talk about the scientific side of things, there needs to be more focus, understanding and education around cannulation”.