RecruitingNot Applicable

Preoperative Hemodialysis Timing in Patients With End-Stage Kidney Disease: The POD-ESKD Pilot Trial

United States30 participantsStarted 2026-05-27

Plain-language summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the feasibility of two different preoperative hemodialysis schedules for people with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) who undergo surgical procedures. The main questions it aims to answer are: Is it feasible to randomize participants with ESKD undergoing nonemergent surgical procedures to same-day hemodialysis versus no same-day hemodialysis? Is it safe to randomize participants with ESKD undergoing nonemergent surgical procedures to same-day hemodialysis versus no same-day hemodialysis? Researchers will compare the two hemodialysis schedules to see if the scheduling and safety profiles are the same. Participants will: Answer questions about their health up to 4 weeks before and 4 weeks after the surgical procedure. Receive hemodialysis on the day of the surgical procedure or not, depending on the study treatment assignment.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion criteria

. Patient is willing to comply with all study procedures for the duration of the study
. Patient has a diagnosis of ESKD
. Patient initiated hemodialysis at least 90 days prior to the planned surgical procedure
. Patient is treated with a stable hemodialysis schedule, defined as an average of 2.5- 3.5 hemodialysis sessions per week in the preceding 4 weeks prior to surgery
. Patient is scheduled to undergo nonemergent surgical procedures in the Stanford Health Care system. This includes (but is not limited to):

Exclusion criteria

. Patient is pregnant

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Since this trial is specifically looking at the timing between my last hemodialysis session and when I go into surgery, how do you think adjusting that timing might affect my own surgical plan compared to what you'd normally do?
2This study is measuring things like dangerous electrolyte levels or fluid overload that might force an extra unplanned dialysis session or even cancel my surgery — how worried are you about those risks in my particular case, and how would the trial handle that if it happened?
3Since this is a pilot trial with no assigned phase, it sounds like researchers are still figuring out the basics of how to run a larger study — does that mean there's less known about the safety of different dialysis timing approaches than there would be in a more advanced trial?
4If I join this trial, would my hemodialysis schedule before surgery be different from what you would normally recommend for me, and how would that fit with my current dialysis routine and overall health?
5Are there standard care guidelines for how close to surgery I should have dialysis that we could follow instead, and how does participating in this trial compare to just following those existing recommendations for someone in my situation?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Number of hours from completion of the most recent preoperative hemodialysis session to entry into the operating room

Timeframe: up to 1 day

Number of participants who experience electrolyte abnormalities or volume overload requiring additional unplanned hemodialysis, rescheduling / cancellation of the surgical procedure, or an unanticipated escalation of postoperative level of care.

Timeframe: up to 1 day

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07339202

SponsorStanford University

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2027-09-15

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Perioperative Management trials

Plain-language summary

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion criteria

. Patient is willing to comply with all study procedures for the duration of the study
. Patient has a diagnosis of ESKD
. Patient initiated hemodialysis at least 90 days prior to the planned surgical procedure
. Patient is treated with a stable hemodialysis schedule, defined as an average of 2.5- 3.5 hemodialysis sessions per week in the preceding 4 weeks prior to surgery
. Patient is scheduled to undergo nonemergent surgical procedures in the Stanford Health Care system. This includes (but is not limited to):

Exclusion criteria

. Patient is pregnant

What they're measuring

Number of hours from completion of the most recent preoperative hemodialysis session to entry into the operating room

Timeframe: up to 1 day