Hemodialysis end-stage renal disease patients
Patients requiring vascular access establishment or maintenance
The Far Infrared Therapy Research Team at Taipei Veterans General Hospital introduced far infrared radiation therapy in 2004, becoming the first medical center hemodialysis unit in Taiwan to systematically verify the clinical benefits of far infrared therapy for hemodialysis patients' vascular access. This therapy uses far infrared radiation with wavelength 3-25μm, 40 minutes per session, 2-3 times per week, at a distance of 20-30cm, to improve the patency rate and prognosis of arteriovenous fistula in hemodialysis patients.
First in the world to create a far infrared therapy-based vascular access treatment model incorporated into European and American clinical practice guidelines
Leading over 80% (more than 600) hemodialysis centers nationwide to use far infrared therapy for vascular access care
Nephrology research team with the most published papers on far infrared therapy for vascular access globally (67 SCI publications)
Supporting domestic enterprises by using Taiwan-made far infrared medical equipment in all clinical treatments
Building Taiwan brand by promoting high-quality domestic medical devices to approximately 1360 dialysis centers across 23 countries on five continents
Long-term hemodialysis patient enrollment: 153 in 2003 → 179 in 2010 → 438 in 2021 (2.86-fold increase)
Far infrared radiation therapy rate: 0% in 2003 → 66.5% in 2010 → 70.1% in 2021
Total hemodialysis patients in Taiwan: approximately 84,000 in 2021
Vascular access occlusion rate: 30.7% (2003) → 18.4% (2010) → 11% (2021), 64.2% reduction
Vascular access reconstruction rate: 20.9% (2003) → 5.0% (2010) → 1.4% (2021), 93.3% reduction
Angioplasty success rate: 31.9% (2003) → 72.7% (2010) → 87.3% (2021), 2.74-fold improvement
1-year arteriovenous fistula patency rate: 85.9% (TVGH FIR treatment group) vs 67.6% (control group), world's first
Newly established vascular access maturation rate: 82% (TVGH FIR treatment group) vs 60% (control group)
67 SCI publications, surpassing renowned international medical centers (Cleveland Clinic 38, Mayo Clinic 25)
Citation count up to 165 times (2007 JASN publication)
Featured as highlight research in dialysis by Nature Reviews Nephrology (IF=42.439)
No significant adverse effects reported from far infrared therapy
Clear treatment criteria: applicable when vascular access blood flow <2000ml/min
Newly established vascular access requires absence of obvious bleeding before treatment
Received enthusiastic recognition and high approval from dialysis patients
Over 80% of hemodialysis centers nationwide have adopted this treatment model
Incorporated into European Renal Association (ERBP) 2019 clinical practice guidelines
Recommended by American Kidney Foundation (NKF) KDOQI 2019 clinical guidelines
Cited in the seminal nephrology textbook Brenner and Rector's The Kidney (11th Edition)
Serving as board member of Asia-Pacific Society for Vascular Access (APSDA), successfully hosted 5th congress in Kaohsiung (2021)
Hellev Hospital in Denmark conducted large-scale multicenter clinical trial in Copenhagen (2021)
Promoted to approximately 1360 dialysis centers across 23 countries on five continents
International medical exchange with Central American diplomatic ally Saint Kitts and Nevis
Conducted international medical and far infrared therapy seminar with Pacific ally Nauru
Presented and promoted at Vietnam Nephrology Annual Meeting
Estimated annual reduction of approximately 421 million NTD in National Health Insurance expenditure
Arteriovenous fistula angioplasty (PTA) reduction of 180 million NTD/year
Arteriovenous fistula reconstruction surgery reduction of 241 million NTD/year
Selected for Taipei Medical Expo Innovation Award (2009)
Exhibited and promoted at European Renal Medicine Annual Conference (2014)
Reduced healthcare costs while improving patient quality of life
Promoted internationalization of Taiwan's medical industry
