Rationale

The practical use of ultrasound in clinical diagnostics has experienced significant momentum in recent years, thanks to its well-known characteristics of accuracy, speed, safety, reproducibility, and low cost, making it an indisputably valuable and indispensable investigation tool. Ultrasound examination has now become an integral part of internal or nephrological examinations and is an indispensable tool in interventional procedures, particularly in the case of vascular access (VA) for dialysis.

The literature data demonstrate that dialysis vascular access significantly impacts the morbidity and mortality of patients undergoing hemodialysis and also results in a growing consumption of resources. Competence in VA represents an unavoidable educational need for anyone involved in dialysis, not only for nephrologists, who have always recognized the importance of “vascular access care” in the clinical care pathway of chronic kidney disease, but also for vascular surgeons, interventional radiologists, and dialysis nurses. The necessity of an interdisciplinary culture around VA arises from the increased complexity of patients and the need to offer personalized treatment of high quality and professionalism. However, due to organizational models that are not always adequate and structural limitations, dialysis VA is often relegated to a marginal role in nephrology training. In recent years, with the increase in the number of procedures performed on nephropathic patients directly by nephrologists, the figure of the interventional nephrologist has emerged.

Therefore, within the realm of VA, educational activities and training programs must aim to develop the multidisciplinary competencies and skills necessary for nephrologists to assume the role of team leader, ensuring comprehensive and appropriate management of VA. All this, according to the best international practices and guidelines, with particular attention to patient preferences, treatment goals, and safety. It is also necessary to promote and disseminate the culture of VA, with the aim of making all stakeholders aware of the clinical impact it can have on patients and its economic implications. Nephrologists must establish a leadership role within the multidisciplinary team dedicated to the care of patients requiring VA. Only well-coordinated and integrated care can ensure the best possible treatment for the patient’s needs.

Scientific Program

DAY 1 – 16th JUNE 

08:30-09:00
Registration 

09:00-09:30 
Welcome Ceremony and Presentation of the course – N. Campobasso, M. Fiorentino, L. Gesualdo, C. Lucas 

09:30-10:30 
Becoming familiar with US machine and its setting – G. Piscopo 

10:30-11:00
Point of care ultrasound in the practice of nephrology – A. Mascolo

11:00-11:30 
Coffee break 

11:30-13:00 
How to conduct an abdominal US examination: US anatomy of the mainabdominal organs – T. Piccolo 

13:00-14:30 
Lunch break

14:30-17:00 
Practical activity day 1
Focus on abdominal US examination – G. Piscopo, A. Mascolo, T. Piccolo 

DAY 2 – 17th JUNE 

09:00-09:30 
Knowing color-Doppler principles and its applications – M. Forcella 

09.30-10.00 
How to perform arterial and venous eco-color-Doppler examination – M. Forcella

10.00-11.00
Point-of-care ultrasonography in patients with AKI – M. Fiorentino

11.00-11.30 
Coffee break 

11.30-12.30 
Assessment of tissue and vascular congestion: LuS & VeXUS in renal care – K. Espinoza 

12.30-14.00 
Lunch break 

14:00-17:00 
Practical activity day 2
Focus on eco-Doppler examination – G. Piscopo, M. Forcella, K. Espinosa 

DAY 3 – 18th JUNE 

09:00-09:30 
Interventional nephrology: The Vascular Access Team – L. Gesualdo 

09:30–10:00 
Epidemiology of Vascular access – The Italian Survey – C. Cortese 

10.00-10.30 
Human topographic anatomy of upper and lower arm – F. Bagagli 

10.30-11.00 
Coffee break 

11.00-12.30 
Physical Examination of the arterio-venous vascular access for hemodialysis – L. Carlos 

12.30-13.00 
Pre-operative vascular mapping – J. Ibeas 

13.00-14.30 
Lunch break 

14:30-15:00 
Patient safety and VA – M. Gallieni 

15:00-17:00 
Practical activity day 3
Focus on vascular mapping – C. Lomonte, C. Cortese, A. Pesino 

DAY 4 – 19th JUNE 

09:00-09:30 
AVF: guidelines and operating room requirements – F. Bagagli 

09:30-10:00 
Native proximal and distal AVF, endovascular AVF – C. Cortese 

10:00-10:30 
AV graft – N. Grandolfo 

10:30-11:00 
Coffee break 

11:00-13:00 
Practical activity day 4
Focus on AVF creation – F. Bagagli, A. Pesino, C. Cortese

13:00-14:00 
Lunch break

14:00-14:30
What the Computational Hemodynamic of AVF teaches to nephrologists – S. Poloni

14:30-15:00 
AV Access Monitoring and surveillance – C. Lomonte 

15:00-15:30 
US parameters of AVF maturation – A. Pesino 

15:30-16:00 
VA Complications: surgical and endovascular approach – C. Cortese, N. Grandolfo 

16:00-18:00 
Practical activity day 4
Focus on AVF surveillance – F. La Fergola, A. Pesino, C. Cortese 

DAY 5 – 20th JUNE 

09:00-09:30 
Central Venous Catheters (non-tunneled and tunneled) – F. La Fergola 

09:30-10.00 
CVC dysfunction – C. Lomonte 

10:00-10:30 
CVC infection – F. La Fergola 

10:30–11:00 
Coffee break 

11:00-12:00 
Central Vein Thrombosis, Central Vein Stenosis – R. Inchingolo

12:00-12:30 
Ultrasound in CVC placement – A.M. Di Palma, G. Piscopo

12:30-13:00 
Closing Ceremony – M. Fiorentino, C. Lucas, R. Romanini

13:00-14:30 
Lunch break 

14.30- 17.00 
Practical activity day 5
Focus on CVC – F. La Fergola, C. Lomonte, C. Cortese 

Scientific Committee Members

Prof. Loreto Gesualdo
Full Professor of Nephrology, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Italy

Prof. Marco Fiorentino
Nephrologist, University of Bari, Italy

Prof. José Ibeas
Director of Nephrology, Hospital Universitari Parc Taulí, Barcelona, Spain

Dr. Carlos Lucas
Corporate Global Medical Director, Diaverum, São João do Estoril, Portugal

Dr. Nicla Campobasso
Medical Director, Diaverum, Bari, Italy

Faculty

Dr. Alessandra Pesino, Bari
Dr. Tiziana Piccolo, Barletta
Dr. Giovanni Piscopo, Bari 
Dr. Anna Maria Di Palma, Bari 
Dr.ssa Sofia Poloni, Bergamo
Dr. Rafael Romanini, Portugal

EACCME

An application has been made to the UEMS EACCME® for CME/CPD accreditation of this event.

TARGET AUDIENCE
Nephrologists, vascular surgeons, interventional radiologists, dialysis nurses and other healthcare professionals involved in the care of dialysis patients.

The certification of credits is subject to 100% participation in the entire training program and to learning verification and it will be available at www.aristeaeducation.it no earlier than 60 days from the closing date of the event.