March is National Kidney Month, and Merit Medical is committed to empowering the health and wellness of people living with chronic kidney disease and their caregivers. At Merit, our goal is to support the renal health community through a vast array of state-of-the-art therapeutic products, physician education courses, and patient education tools that equip clinicians to make a difference for people living with chronic kidney disease.
According to the National Institutes of Health, approximately 37 million Americans live with chronic kidney disease.1 Although incidences of chronic kidney disease have risen consistently, 9 out of 10 people are not aware of their diagnosis because early-stage kidney disease generally has no symptoms.1
The U.S. Renal Data System 2020 Annual Report cited that approximately 786,000 Americans live with end-stage renal or kidney disease, with 71% (558,000) of those receiving dialysis and 29% (228,000) receiving a kidney transplant.2 People living with end-stage kidney disease require dialysis therapy to regulate body functions, including controlling blood pressure, because their kidneys no longer can.3 Without access to adequate, regular, and affordable dialysis care, people living with end-stage kidney disease will not survive.3
As the number of people impacted by kidney disease continues to increase, Merit’s significant commitment to the renal health community is crucial. Merit is uniquely positioned with hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis (PD) options for treatments and ancillary products that make a difference for dialysis patients who depend on high-quality care.
Merit Products
Super HeRO®
The Super HeRO Adapter and Support Seal system equips surgeons with standard wall and early cannulation vascular graft options. In addition to reducing hospital admissions due to catheter infections, the Super HeRO helps hospitals and dialysis centers save $3,100 per patient per year when converting catheter-dependent patients to the HeRO graft.
HeRO Graft®
For catheter-dependent patients, or those whose kidney function fails to improve with fistulas or grafts, Merit has engineered a solution: the HeRO Graft, a hemodialysis access graft designed precisely for these patients. Research indicated a 69% reduction in future infections with the HeRO Graft compared to patients receiving catheters.
Surfacer® Inside-Out® Access Catheter System
The Inside-Out approach was developed by John Gurley, M.D., in response to patients with chronically occluded veins. The Surfacer Inside-Out Access Catheter System is inserted through the femoral vein and navigated to an exit point in the right internal jugular vein, preserving the viability of secondary central veins.
Peritoneal Dialysis Catheters
To improve flow rates by 30%, Merit designed Flex-Neck Peritoneal Dialysis Catheters with an internal diameter (ID) that is 35% larger than competitors. Infant catheters come in one and two cuff configurations, and each catheter kit has a unique stenciling system for improved placement accuracy.
CentrosFlo® Hemodialysis Catheters
Featuring self-centering curved tips to promote optimal blood flow and minimize recirculation rates, The Centros (without side holes) and the CentrosFLO™ (with side holes) long-term hemodialysis catheters reach the pinnacle of overall catheter performance. Designed by Dr. Stephen Ash, Merit’s 15F catheters feature a large internal lumen, promoting a flow rate up to 450 mL/minutes.
ProGuide™ Chronic Dialysis Catheters
Designed for patient comfort, ease of insertion, and maintenance, ProGuide Chronic Dialysis Catheters are inserted through a valved peel-away sheath or over-the-wire placements and available in catheter lengths from 19 cm to 50 cm (tip to cuff). Available configurations include standalone catheter, basic kit, complete kit, and complete kit with mini access kit.
Physicians and surgeons look to Merit to provide insightful resources and cutting-edge therapeutic products designed to make a difference for people living with chronic kidney disease. Merit designs and innovates leading products specifically for patients receiving dialysis. For more information on how you can incorporate our biopsy products into your practice, please contact Merit Customer Support.
REFERENCES
- National Institutes of Health. National Kidney Month 2022. Retrieved from https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/community-health-outreach/national-kidney-month
- American Society of Nephrology. (April 2021). Dialysis Care Around The World: A Global Perspective. Retrieved from https://kidney360.asnjournals.org/content/2/4/604
- National Kidney Foundation. Dialysis Info. Retrieved from https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/dialysisinfo