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Ocean Vascular Team Is There for Patient
Eleanor "Ellie" Wilson, 66, of Brick
loves to garden. While enjoying
her hobby in spring 2008, she
experienced excessive itchiness all over.
As the weather got warmer, the itchiness
increased and finally became unbearable.
Ellie went to the Ocean Care Center in
Point Pleasant. A blood test showed that
her kidneys were in extreme failure.
Itchiness is one initial symptom of
kidney failure. Other symptoms include
fatigue, frequent hiccups, headache, lethargy,
and unintentional weight loss.
Ellie required hemodialysis, a process
that removes the waste and excess fluids
from your body when your kidneys are not
capable of doing so. She was transferred to
Ocean Medical Center. There, a temporary
catheter was placed in her neck so she
could start hemodialysis immediately.
"With a state-of-the-art endovascular
lab adjacent to our office, we can quickly
treat patients," explains Frank Sharp, M.D.,
a board certified vascular surgeon and
chief of surgery at Ocean Medical Center.
"Our team of vascular surgeons is available
24/7."
Then, since Ellie would require ongoing
dialysis, a permanent vascular access — an
AV fistula — needed to be placed in her forearm. An AV fistula, generally referred
to as a vascular access, connects the vein
directly to an artery to allow greater blood
flow through the vein. This also helps the
vein grow stronger so it can handle dialysis
Dr. Sharp and the rest of the team
remained involved in Ellie's care every step
of the way. Even when Ellie had a problem
with her vascular access one morning at
7:00 a.m., Dr. Sharp saw her immediately.
He cleared a blockage so she could receive
her dialysis later in the day. "Dr. Sharp is
very human — so caring," says Ellie. "He is
very concerned about his patients."
Dialysis patients at Ocean Medical Center
receive comprehensive care because the
vascular and dialysis teams work together.
"We have an open line of communication
with our dialysis team," says Dr. Sharp.
When a patient has a problem with vascular
access, such as Ellie did, the dialysis
team can alert the vascular surgeons,
who then schedule the patient and clear
any blockages. The dialysis center also
uses technology that proactively screens
patients to identify potential problems with
their vascular access. A clear access helps
ensure optimal blood flow during dialysis.
Ellie continues her dialysis treatment
three times a week. She feels much more
like her old self again, has a great positive
attitude, and continues to enjoy her
gardening.
 – Anne Marie Keevins
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You may think bubbly, ice-cold
cola is a drink you and your kids
can share. But a recent study
shows that cola may increase your
risk for chronic kidney disease.
In the study, people who
drank two or more colas per
day — diet or regular — were
more than twice as likely to have
kidney disease than those who
didn't. Soft drinks have been
linked to diabetes and high blood
pressure, which — along with
family history — are risk factors
for kidney disease.
Plus, cola contains the mineral
phosphorus. Too much phosphorus
causes another important
mineral — calcium — to leak
from bones. Extra calcium can
harden into stones in your kidneys,
causing pain and boosting
your odds for kidney disease.
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