The Genius of Stuart Mott: Solving Buttonhole Infections

By Peter Laird, MD

Buttonhole cannulation is an underutilized resource in the hemodialysis setting that recently has come into further question due to studies showing higher rates of infection than standard cannulation techniques. I have long believed that proper hygiene and disinfection can circumvent this higher infection risk leading me to conclude that it simply may be a failure of infection control techniques rather than a failure with buttonhole methodology itself.  Recently, Stuart Mott addressed these issues and developed a new approach and technique that may prove to be the solution to this problem of higher infection rates with the constant site techniques.

Milestone has been reached in buttonhole infections

1. At the end of June 2012 a milestone was reached with 4 000, cannulation of buttonholes. This projected was started in June of 2009 with just two patients and a lot of doters noted at the time. In January of 2010 two more patients where add as a resulted of the first two. No infections and buttonhole integrity remained in tactated.The use of shower scrubbers were initially used but in the summer of 2010 while getting more shower scrubbers at the local Wal-Mart I notice the exfoliating facial buffs. When first trying them out I notice a result that was far better than the shower scrubbers. Faster cleaning and better cleaning of the buttonhole site. The removal of dead skin as well as the oil around the site leads me to believe that his technique was the way to go. Immedelty after using the exfoliating facial buffers the scab remove became the key to the elimination of the infections problem. All the scab material was removed from the buttonhole site and only in rare occasions was there any scab left. What is left is the buttonhole plug. This is removed by using the pickers that come with the needles. 
2. The use of the technique is as followed.  Non-sterile, clean gloves. Cut the pad in half for longer use. You will notice after 30 to 40 uses the pad becomes compacted, it time to use the other half
3. Place the exfoliating facial pad under hot water for 30 to 45 seconds to warm and moisten the pad prior to applying to skin.
4. Apply one to two drops of antibacterial soap to the pad.  Using your fingers spread the soap around on the pad to provide even distribution of the soap.
5. Using a circular motion, the staff or patient scrubs the buttonhole site/scab in a circular motion using moderate pressure approximately 10-12 times.
6.  using a clean paper towel dry the site and throw the paper towel away , don’t use water to rise the site off.
7. Examine site to determine if all scab material around buttonhole site is removed.
8. If scab material remains in the buttonhole track, remove using a sterile needle that is provided in the needle kit.
9. Betadine will be utilized to cleanse buttonhole site immediately prior to cannulation with fistula needles.

Air dry exfoliating pad during treatment by placing pad on top of the dialysis machine.

The lecturer on this infection of buttonholes is limited with in formation. But with this in mind the lowest reported was 0.16 per thousand cannulation(Doss, Schiller, & Moran, 2008; Marticorena et al., 2006, 2009; van Loon, Goovaerts, Kessels, van der Sande, & Tordoir, 2009; Verhallen, Kooistra, & Van Jaarsveld, 2007).  The Mott method for cleaning buttonholes  use somewhat different approach in that it cleans the whole area and not just the area around the buttonhole.

Since February a multiply content approach using this technique is in play, Australia, Canada and Europe are in different phase of getting this approved. The outcomes will be written about in the next year.

Stuart and his team has achieved an incridible 4000 buttonhole cannulations withour a single infection using this novel technique. Stuart is now engaged in an international, multi-center study to validate his initial observations in a study now commencing. Should the initial results Stuart obtained in his home unit be duplicated with a significant reduction in infections, one of the biggest considerations against using buttonhole cannulation will evaporate.

Buttonhole cannulation in my opinion should be the standard of care using Touch Cannulation to eliminate the variance between multiple cannulators. With these preliminary results, Stuart may single handedly be on course to solve the remaining issues that prevent universal acceptance of constant site cannulation which is known to reduce aneurysm development. The results of this ongoing study will hopefully confirm and promote a standard process for scab removal. With over 4000 infection free scab removals and cannulations, it is certainly a process that demands further study.

Comments

[Roberta Mikles BA RN]

this has to do with infection control techniques -- I remember when my father had an attempted buttonhole -- the staff did not remove the scab, even after another interventional nephrologist, who was involved with buttonholes, etc., gave an instructional class ---finally they did remove the scabs. However, I still hear patients stating the scabs are not removed -- therefore, bacteria in the scab is introduced into the bloodstream..

opinion of Roberta Mikles BA RN
Director, Advocates4QualitySafePatientCare
www.qualitysafepatientcare.com

[Zahid]

Should the initial results Stuart obtained in his home unit be duplicated with a significant reduction in infections, one of the biggest considerations against using buttonhole cannulation will evaporate.
Medsempire Muhammad

[Peter Laird, MD]

That is the great hope of Stuart's study he is now conducting in several centers in the US, Canada and Europe I believe. Buttonhole cannulation should be the standard of care in-center and at home for all patients with an appropriate access. I believe that this is the beginning of research into making that a reality for all patients.

[George]

Use some of the home remedies commonly touted to help clear up vaginal yeast infections. For example, eating yogurt is thought to help because it contains the bacteria lactobacillus. https://www.carlmontpharmacy.com/quinine.html

[Sharon Badger]

One of the things I have noticed is that there is a lack of MD authored papers/articles concerning the buttonhole technique. Good or bad, many will not even consider the recommendation of this technique unless there is supporting documentation from licensed personnel on the topic. I do believe the problems seen with current buttonhole usage is a function of no or not enough teaching regarding the proper precautions to take when preparing the site. Please keep going on this.

[Peter J. Tonkin]

I have been using buttonholes for seven years now and totally agree that the current issue with the concern in using buttonholes is due to incorrect infection control. In my seven years I have never had an infection and never been admitted to hospital.. Five of these years were done at home, five times a week doing nocturnal, and the other two in hospital. I am still using the original buttonholes I created seven years ago and never missed a day.

I would recommend buttonholes to anyone considering home dialysis or nocturnal just as my mentor did to me when I first started dialysis and he dialysed for over 35 years.