The Taoyuan Hemodialysis Access Nursing Symposium held last Sunday, 9/17, came to a happy close amid the enthusiastic participation and discussion of more than a hundred hemodialysis nurses.
The symposium opened with Dr. Shih-Chieh Lin of nephrology at Chang Shen Hospital, who shared his clinical experience from many years of caring for patients. Cardiovascular complications account for the highest proportion in the dialysis population, followed by infection-related complications, so reducing the chance of infection and implementing aseptic technique for dialysis lines is crucial. Dr. Lin also shared the latest international treatment guidelines, pointing out the key points for frontline nurses.
Many head nurses and nurses from dialysis units, including CEO Yu-Chiao Wen of An Shen Clinic, took an active part in the discussion, sharing experience and views on aseptic technique.
This year we were honored to invite Ms. Shu-Tzu Chen, Executive Director of the Taiwan Nutrition Society and convener of its Kidney Group, to talk about “Dietary and lifestyle guidance for dialysis patients.” In a very lively way she shared her valuable experience of caring for patients’ nutrition over many years: how to improve nutrition correctly and effectively, what to eat, how to eat, and more, very everyday topics. The subject drew everyone’s interest and extensive discussion.
Thank you to Ms. Chen for sharing her lecture handout, for reference by hemodialysis caregivers.
The third topic invited Dr. Pin-Chao Feng, formerly of vascular surgery at Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and now at De Ren Hospital, to talk about how to strengthen communication between vascular surgeons and hemodialysis units. With very lively and beautiful slides, Dr. Feng explained intuitively how surgeons view dialysis access and how they solve problems, so that dialysis nurses clearly understand what vascular surgeons do, and together we care for patients’ hemodialysis access.
Another talk at this symposium was given by vascular surgeon Dr. Ta-Wei Su on “early cannulation dialysis grafts.” From the surgical side, attendees learned the differences between early cannulation grafts and conventional grafts and how surgeons place a graft in the arm; from the nurse’s side, he considered how to needle and the key points of post-operative care, and how to adjust conventional thinking so as to needle with more confidence within 72 hours after surgery.
With enthusiastic participation and discussion, attendees gained a great deal and gave quite positive feedback. We look forward to the second symposium next month, on 10/22.
Thank you all again for taking part!
