Renal Failure

Safeguarding the "Lifeline": Comprehensive Lifecycle Management and Multidimensional Nursing Innovations for Vascular Health in Hemodialysis Patients

Vascular health serves as the cornerstone for hemodialysis patients to maintain treatment continuity and improve long-term prognosis. Recognized universally as the 'lifeline,' the arteriovenous fistula and its functional integrity directly determine treatment efficacy and patient quality of life. Transcending the limitations of isolated fistula care, this collection focuses on the comprehensive lifecycle management of vascular health in hemodialysis patients. It covers the entire spectrum from early vascular protection, dialysis access selection and establishment, to access maintenance, complication prevention, intervention for functional decline, and the strategic preservation of end-stage vascular resources. Integrating clinical nursing practice, evidence-based research, technological innovation, and holistic care, this collection aims to systematically present multidimensional advancements in vascular health. It provides comprehensive, cutting-edge academic references and practical guidance for nephrology healthcare professionals, nursing managers, rehabilitation specialists, and researchers.

As the global hemodialysis population continues to grow, vascular-related complications have become a critical bottleneck limiting treatment quality. Beyond traditional complications such as thrombosis and stenosis of arteriovenous fistulas, emerging challenges—including vascular calcification, endothelial dysfunction, suboptimal access selection, fragmented care coordination, and inadequate patient self-management—severely threaten vascular health and treatment continuity, while escalating the medical burden. Current clinical practice is often impeded by fragmented management, insufficient standardization, and limited multidisciplinary collaboration. Consequently, there is an urgent need to develop systematic solutions by integrating multidimensional research with innovative practices. Addressing this critical need, this collection consolidates interdisciplinary expertise to provide foundational academic support for optimizing vascular health management systems. It aims to reduce the incidence of adverse events and enhance patients’ quality of life, advancing hemodialysis nursing towards precision, systematization, and comprehensive lifecycle management.

Centered on the comprehensive lifecycle management of vascular health in hemodialysis patients, this collection covers the following multidimensional subtopics:

• Assessment and preservation strategies for pre-dialysis vascular resources;
• Individualized selection and nursing care during the establishment of vascular access (arteriovenous fistulas, central venous catheters, and arteriovenous grafts);
• Full lifecycle access maintenance (including preoperative planning, promoting maturation, and long-term monitoring);
• Early identification and multidisciplinary intervention for vascular-related complications (e.g., thrombosis, stenosis, infection, calcification, and aneurysms);
• Application of smart technologies in vascular health management (e.g., ultrasound-guided care, remote monitoring, and AI-driven early warning systems);
• Patient education and behavioral interventions for self-management of vascular health;
• Optimized nursing care for special populations (the elderly, diabetics, obese patients, and those with cardiovascular comorbidities);
• Development of multidisciplinary collaborative models (physician-nurse, rehabilitation, nutrition) for vascular health;
• Quality control and the establishment of standardization systems for vascular health nursing.

Article Collection key terms:

• Hemodialysis
• Vascular Access Management
• Comprehensive Life-Cycle Management
• Multidimensional Care
• Multidisciplinary Collaboration

Article Collection Guest Advisors:

Professor Li Yafeng is Director of the Department of Nephrology and Academic Leader at the Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University and is a Chief Physician and Doctoral Supervisor. He conducted postdoctoral research at the Metabolic Disease Research Center of Temple University in the United States from 2013 to 2016. He formerly served as Chief Physician and Director of the Central Laboratory at the Department of Nephrology, Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital and conducted research on IgA nephropathy and chronic kidney disease, leading multiple National Natural Science Foundation projects and provincial key initiatives. He has published 50 SCI papers (including 5 in Q1 journals and 5 with impact factors above 10). Honored with the Shanxi May 1st Labor Medal and recognized as a “Sanjin Elite” leading talent.

Shouzhen Cheng is a Chief Nurse and Director of Nursing at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, as well as an Academician of the American Academy of Nursing and recipient of the 48th Florence Nightingale Medal. A leading expert in critical care and respiratory nursing, she has spearheaded over 100 clinical nursing innovations, published 100+ academic papers, and edited 20+ national textbooks and monographs. She led pandemic relief efforts in Wuhan and Serbia, and has trained nearly 20,000 critical care nurses, driving advances in nursing quality and academic exchange in China. Her work spans clinical practice, research, and education, solidifying her status as a pivotal figure in global nursing

Fu Xia is a Chief Nurse and Director of the Nursing Department at the Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, with over 20 years of expertise in hemodialysis nursing, nursing management, and related fields. She has led multiple provincial/municipal research projects, published over 20 academic papers, and held several national nursing device patents. As a master's supervisor and key member of academic societies like the Chinese Nursing Association, she contributes significantly to advancing hemodialysis nursing in China. Dedicated to enhancing nursing quality, she remains a pivotal figure in clinical practice and nursing academic exchanges.

­­All manuscripts submitted to this Article Collection will undergo a full peer-review; the Guest Advisors for this Collection will not be handling the manuscripts (unless they are an Editorial Board member).

Please review the journal scope and author submission instructions prior to submitting a manuscript.

The deadline for submitting manuscripts is 16th October 2026.

Please contact Rebecca Kearns at [email protected] with any queries and discount codes regarding this Article Collection.

Please be sure to select the appropriate Article Collection from the drop-down menu in the submission system.

The Guest Advisors for this Article Collection have declared no conflict of interests