Seminars in dialysis
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Dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an expanding problem for healthcare systems worldwide. The prevalence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) has increased by 20% since 2000 and stands at 1699 per million people in the USA. ESRD is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular comorbidity, increased severity of cardiovascular disease, and an adjusted all-cause mortality rate that is 6.4-7.8-fold higher than the general population. ⋯ As such, they are in an ideal position to contribute to, or coordinate, early preoperative medical optimization of the patient and also to provide advice during postoperative recovery and rehabilitation. In this article, we provide an overview of some of the key aspects of managing these patients successfully during the perioperative period. We propose the integration of cardiopulmonary exercise testing and cardiovascular optimization into the care of these high-risk patients and provide an overview of the importance of maintaining microvascular perfusion and the role of viscosity in preserving the capillary perfusion network.