Helping to solve the Achilles heel of dialysis – vascular access
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xtra-med is dedicated to helping healthcare practitioners solve what is considered to be the achilles heel of haemodialysis - vascular access.
Through specialising in this area for many years and working closely with our nursing and surgical specialists we have developed our expertise.
We understand the issue very well and our mission is to help find resolutions.
Our aim is to provide education and bring innovative products to the healthcare practitioners and patients to address vascular access issues.
We look forward to providing ideas and products to increase the proportion of patients receiving haemodialysis via an arteriovenous fistula or graft.
Please let us know how we can support you
For us, education and training are more important than advertising. Our growth will be achieved by users benefitting from successful application of our products.
We are a small team who want to listen to your views and needs.
Contact us so we can listen to you.
Latest News
View previous news Oct 2022 Xtra-med are delighted to have supported the Point Of Care Ultrasound and Cannulation workshop at the recent VASBI meeting in Glasgow. With the Sonon HD300L devices available together with a number of phantom moulds filled with “vessels” delegates were able to gain practical simulated experience at the workshop.
For us, education and training are more important than advertising. We believe this, along with bringing innovative products to the UK market, is how we can best help you to solve the Achilles heel of Haemodialysis - vascular access. We are delighted to now work with a clinical nurse trainer to assist with the more practical aspects of training. Julia has over 30 years’ experience in vascular access and is proficient in ultrasound and the use of the soft plastic cannula. Meetings & Workshops New Workshop!! We are delighted to have teamed up with Monica Schoch and Vicki Smith from Australia, who are well published in the use of nurse led ultrasound and the use of the soft plastic fistula cannula. We are now able to offer on line workshops on both of these subjects with Monica and Vicki as guest presenters. Our next workshop is being planned for September – if you would like to receive an invitation to this please contact us
We continue to also cover the following subjects and can tailor an agenda to suit your specific needs: • Understanding the Needling recommendations • Understanding fistula anatomy, physiology and maturation • Ideal vascular access for Haemodialysis & Access type by preference • Maintenance of vascular access through effective needling o Rope ladder cannulation o Buttonhole cannulation • Bio-engineering observations of flow dynamics • The use of nurse led ultrasound • The use of soft plastic fistula cannula • Effective surveillance and monitoring of vascular access • Needle stick injury – the facts, the regulations & the practical aspects • Various practical simulation sessions on use of buttonhole needles, safety needles, plastic fistula cannulae and ultrasound For more information, or to request a workshop contact us
INTRODUCING - HAEMODIALYSIS 300 L - a truly mobile handheld ultrasound imaging device We have been scanning the globe for over 5 years to find a suitable device and believe that we have now found a solution that meets the needs required to support the vascular access of the haemodialysis units. The 2018 BRS -VASBI clinical practice recommendations recognise that use of ultrasound technology can make needling of difficult AV access more successful and less traumatic for patients and suggest that each unit should consider investment in this technology and training for nursing staff, to implement this practice to support needling of difficult AV access.
We have been scanning the globe for over 5 years to find a suitable device and believe that we have now found a solution that meets the needs required to support the vascular access of the haemodialysis units. The 2018 BRS -VASBI clinical practice recommendations recognise that use of ultrasound technology can make needling of difficult AV access more successful and less traumatic for patients and suggest that each unit should consider investment in this technology and training for nursing staff, to implement this practice to support needling of difficult AV access.
With the HAEMODIALYSIS 300 L You have Total Ultrasound Freedom
• Easy and fast setup and operation • Completely portable with small carrying case • Wireless and Cord-less for total freedom: no tethering between probe and screen
• No external wireless network required • Connects to multiple mobile smart devices, compatible with both iOS and Android
Xtra-med announces the first 2 Vascular access workshops of 2019 2nd April in Rugby, Warwickshire 13th May in Barnsley, South Yorkshire
The recent publication of the new BRS/VASBI needling recommendations have provided us with new and exciting content to add to these new workshops, below are the topics we will be covering:
Understanding the new BRS / VASBI clinical practice recommendations for needling of arteriovenous fistulae and grafts in haemodialysis
Optimising AVF/AVG Access Preservation through assessment, monitoring & surveillance
The importance of correct needle placement
Using the new BRS/VASBI needling decision making model to determine the most suitable cannulation technique for each patient
Needling a New Access
Use of a hand-held Ultrasound visualisation device to benefit vascular access
The use of safer sharps fistula needles for cannulating arteriovenous fistulae and grafts in the UK
Patient Involvement in access / self-needling
For more information or to reserve your place please, please contact us info@xtra-med.com
Buttonhole Fistula Needles: We are pleased to introduce a range of buttonhole needles that now offer many of the features our customers have been requesting from us, Namely: A scab picker will now be packaged with all buttonhole needle configurations, the scab picker design is now slightly larger at the handling end and finer at the working end, the needle lengths reflect only the steel shaft, the needles are packed in inner boxes of 50 and the sterilisation methodology is Gamma radiation.
Sharp Fistula Needles with Safety Protector: to introduce a range of safety fistula needles that now offer many of the features our customers have been requesting from us, Namely: A low profile simple to activate protector guard that can be moved out of the way when cannulating and moved up the tubing for a smooth one handed activation. In addition the needle lengths reflect only the steel shaft, the needles are packed in inner boxes of 50 and the sterilisation methodology is Gamma radiation.
September 9th 2017
xtra-med are proud to support the 
initiative – to join the face book group please click here .
September 5th 2016
xtra-med are pleased to have hosted the first advanced vascular access Study day for 22 nurses in Perth Scotland. 6 areas of clinical practice were identified that had the potential to improve vascular access outcomes, which are being either directly actioned or developed further in established clinical workstreams.
Education
xtra-med facilitates training and education through supporting workshops for healthcare professionals.
Workshop subjects
Based on your requests and feedback, we have the following topics available as potential items for your customised agenda, that xtra-med can facilitate for you:
- Understanding of fistula anatomy physiology and maturation
- Ideal vascular access for Haemodialysis & Access type by preference
- Maintenance of vascular access through effective needling
- Rope ladder cannulation
- Buttonhole cannulation – definition & History
- Improving buttonhole cannulation – including the new clinical practice recommendations from the BRS vascular access special interest group
- Bio-engineering observations of flow dynamics
- Effective surveillance and monitoring of vascular access
- Needle stick injury – the facts, the regulations & the practical aspects
- Various practical sessions on use of buttonhole needles, safety needles & plastic fistula cannulae.
For more information, or to request a workshop (or mini workshop for a single trust) in your area please contact us.