NephroPlus launches painless dialysis technique

Dialysis centre network NephroPlus on Tuesday introduced what it called the first-of-its-kind buttonhole needles for painless dialysis for patients across the country.

Buttonhole cannulation is a technique used in home hemodialysis where blunt needles are used instead of sharp ones. With an aim to reduce the pain and make dialysis easier for patients, NephroPlus has introduced this technique in its centres, according to a press release.

Vikram Vuppala, Founder and CEO of Nephroplus, said the buttonhole needle method for painless cannulation was one of the ways Nephroplus was trying to help make



the procedure painless.

In this technique, first, a tract is formed in the flesh by pricking a sharp needle at the same point at the same angle during 5-6 successive dialysis sessions. Subsequently, a blunt needle is used for cannulation that goes through this tract without much pain.

Doctors said the buttonhole needle method is not only pain-free, it is safer and easier for dialysis patients. Patients undergoing dialysis through this method have reported reduction of pain more than 95 per cent than with the previous method, the press release stated.