Preparation of the Dialysis Access in Stages 4 and 5 CKD

Patients with Stages 4 and 5 CKD are optimally managed within a multidisciplinary care setting. This provides an opportunity to create a “patient centered” approach to renal replacement modality options and conservative care. The care team engages with the patient and caregivers to assist with the understanding of their health status, modality and vascular access selection, and overall living with the comorbidity of chronic illness. A systematic approach to provision of education, modality, and access selection, are in part, driven by the patient's expected survival and need for dialysis, the risks and benefits with different modalities, and access and adaptation to their preferences and home situations. Dialysis access education should be included in all education programs so that patients can consider risks and benefits of all modalities. Decision support interventions have been effective in reducing decisional conflict and informed values-based decision-making. For both hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis, timing of the surgical referral and access creation should be individualized based on the rate of CKD progression, risk of complications, and ease of access to surgical services. The health care team should support the patients' decision balancing risks and benefits, as well as their lifestyle, values, beliefs, and preferences.