NephroPlus, India's largest dialysis centre network and a pioneer in redefining dialysis care in India, on August 28 claimed that it has introduced the first of its kind buttonhole needles for painless dialysis for its patients in India.

Buttonhole cannulation is a technique used often in home hemodialysis where blunt needles are used instead of sharp ones, Nephroplus said in a release here. With an aim to reduce the pain and make dialysis easier for patients, the new unique technique was introduced at its centres, it said. Most dialysis patients report pain during the insertion of the needles as their biggest fear in a dialysis treatment. The Buttonhole needles address this fear by reducing the amount of pain drastically.

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. 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 release also calimed. 

Commenting on this initiative, Mr. Vikram Vuppala, Founder and CEO, Nephroplus said, “NephroPlus has always endeavored to provide world class dialysis care to the patients dealing with kidney failure. Our aim is to redefine the dialysis scenario in India, thus we always thrive to be better equipped, address the needs of people on dialysis and improve the healthcare delivery system.

Addressing his thoughts about the innovation, Mr. Kamal Shah, Co-Founder and Director of Patient Services, NephroPlus and himself on dialysis for the past 21 years said, I strongly believe this method will help patient overcome their fear of dialysis and improve compliance and their overall health.

With an aim to make dialysis accessible and affordable to all, NephroPlus has marked their presence across 146 centers in 85 cities. With PPP model, NephroPlus has facilitated people who are under BPL (Below Poverty Line) to avail the schemes, of free dialysis care for all. NephroPlus has successfully completed 2 million dialysis sessions after expanding their presence and servicing dialysis patients across the country.