Nuances of Arteriovenous Fistula Creation for Vascular Access in Hemodialysis

Background With rising incidence and increased life expectancy of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD), the number of patients requiring hemodialysis has increased substantially. Vascular access is the lifeline for a patient on hemodialysis (HD), and an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is the undisputed gold standard for HD access. An effective and long-lasting fistula serves to increase the life expectancy of ESRD patients and improves their quality of life. Learning Objectives This paper aims to give a comprehensive overview of AVF creation, including the various techniques, patient selection, troubleshooting with decision-making, and common complications. Authors share their experience from previous publications and over 2000 AVF surgeries. They have not only described a new modification of the technique of proximal fistula but have also established a direct correlation between bruit and thrill on operation table and success of fistula surgery. Conclusion A standardized, protocol-driven multidisciplinary approach with careful patient and site selection, guided by outcome predictors, is vital in AVF surgery. Knowledge about the potential complications of AVFs contributes to their timely detection and allows measures to be taken that might prevent deleterious consequences that range from loss of vascular access to serious morbidity and mortality.     

Provider Visits and Early Vascular Access Placement in Maintenance Hemodialysis

Medicare reimbursement policy encourages frequent provider visits for patients with ESRD undergoing hemodialysis. We hypothesize that patients seen more frequently by their nephrologist or advanced practitioner within the first 90 days of hemodialysis are more likely to undergo surgery to create an arteriovenous (AV) fistula or place an AV graft. We selected 35,959 patients aged ≥67 years starting hemodialysis in the United States from a national registry. We used multivariable regression to evaluate the associations between mean visit frequency and AV fistula creation or graft placement in the first 90 days of hemodialysis. We conducted an instrumental variable analysis to test the sensitivity of our findings to potential bias from unobserved characteristics. One additional visit per month in the first 90 days of hemodialysis was associated with a 21% increase in the odds of AV fistula creation or graft placement during that period (95% confidence interval, 19% to 24%), corresponding to an average 4.5% increase in absolute probability. An instrumental variable analysis demonstrated similar findings. Excluding visits in months when patients were hospitalized, one additional visit per month was associated with a 10% increase in odds of vascular access surgery (95% confidence interval, 8% to 13%). In conclusion, patients seen more frequently by care providers in the first 90 days of hemodialysis undergo earlier AV fistula creation or graft placement. Payment policies that encourage more frequent visits to patients at key clinical time points may yield more favorable health outcomes than policies that operate irrespective of patients’ health status.     

Can We Create an Arteriovenous Fistula for Hemodialysis through 0.5–1.0 cm Incision without Using Vascular Clamps?

Background A native arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is a gold standard for renal replacement therapy, where regular hemodialysis is the mainstay of survival in the majority of patients suffering from end-stage renal disease. Appropriate vascular clamps are routinely used to occlude an artery and a vein before an arteriotomy or a venotomy is done to prevent blood loss and have a clear field and an ease of anastomosis. The title makes one wonder, is it then possible to create an AVF without using vascular clamps? And through incisions as small as 0.5to 1.0 cm? This is made possible by a very simple new technique, presented here, that helps to occlude vessels to create an AVF through minimal access, and minimize blood loss and postoperative pain. Material and Method  Total 622 AVFs were created between 1998 and 2019. With regular forceps or an AVF platform (design given), an AVF was created without using a vascular clamp. Total 321 cases were operated with 0.5 to 1.0 cm and 215 cases within 1.5 cm skin incision approach. Results  There were ~85% successful functional fistulas. The blood loss was negligible, and only one in three required pain killer in postoperative period. Conclusion  A simple new technique described here makes it possible to create a functional AVF through a small incision, without using vascular clamps.     

Arteriovenous Fistula Puncture: An Essential Factor for Hemodialysis Efficiency

Objective. To determine the blood recirculation ratio in the vascular access of patients on hemodialysis, and to calculate the Kt/Vs obtained with the different techniques of arteriovenous fistula punctures. Materials and Methods. A total of 174 patients were divided according to the technique used for arteriovenous fistula puncture: group 1, needles in opposite directions and with a distance of 5 cm or more between them; group 2, needles in opposite directions but with a distance of less than 5 cm; group 3, unidirectional needles with both directed to the heart and with a distance of 5 cm or more; group 4, unidirectional needles but separated by a distance of less than 5 cm between needles; and group 5, patients carrying a temporary venous catheter. Blood samples were collected for urea analysis, pre and post-dialysis for Kt/V rate, and other samples for calculation of the access recirculation. Results. Group 1 presented the lowest rate of access recirculation (8.51 ± 4.90%) and the best Kt/V (1.71 ± 0.36), while group 4 presented the worst access recirculation (20.68 ± 4.92%) and Kt/V (1.16 ± 0.26). All groups differed significantly from group 4 (p < 0.05), except group 5 with regard for Kt/V parameter. Discussion. The technique of arteriovenous fistula puncture is an essential factor to decrease the access recirculation and assure better results of measurement of hemodialysis adequacy. On the basis of the results obtained, insertion of the needles in the same direction and with a distance of less than 5 cm between them should be avoided.     

Arteriovenous Fistula Placement in the Elderly: When Is the Optimal Time?

Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is the preferred vascular access for hemodialysis (HD). However, many AVFs fail before starting dialysis. To assess the optimal time for AVF placement in the elderly, we linked data from the US Renal Data System with Medicare claims data to identify 17,511 patients≥67 years old on incident HD who started dialysis between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2008, with an AVF placed as the first predialysis access. AVF success was defined as dialysis initiation using the AVF, with time between AVF placement and dialysis start as our primary variable of interest. The mean age was 76.1±6.0 years, and 58.3% of subjects were men. Overall, 54.9% of subjects initiated dialysis using an AVF, and 45.1% of subjects used a catheter or graft. The success rate increased as time from AVF creation to HD initiation increased from 1–3 months (odds ratio [OR], 0.49; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.44 to 0.53) to 3–6 months (OR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.85 to 1.02) to 6–9 months (OR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.88 to 1.11) but stabilized after that time. Furthermore, the number of interventional access procedures increased over time starting at 1–3 months, with a mean of 0.64 procedures/patient for AVFs created 6–9 months predialysis compared with 0.72 for AVFs created >12 months predialysis (P<0.001). Although limited by the observational nature of this study, our results suggest that placing an AVF>6–9 months predialysis in the elderly may not associate with a better AVF success rate.     

A Central Venous (W-B-W) Catheter for Multipurpose Vascular Access in Children

A central venous (W-B-W) catheter has been developed for vascular access in children of all ages and sizes. The catheter design and implantation technique permit nonsurgical bedside adjustment of catheter position and ease of removal. Multiple possible uses include intravenous fluid administration, blood sampling, central venous pressure monitoring, and plasma exchange therapy in addition to hemodialysis. Twenty-seven W-B-W catheters were placed in 24 patients in a 12-month period. The catheter provided adequate blood flow for hemodialysis. Seven catheters were removed nonelectively in five patients. One episode of catheter-associated sepsis occurred after renal transplantation in a patient on immunosuppressive therapy. It is concluded that the W-B-W catheter is a relatively safe, multipurpose, pain-free acute vascular access for children, which may also suffice for chronic hemodialysis.     

A multicentre analysis of the outcome of arteriovenous fistula in maintenance haemodialysis

Introduction: Arteriovenous fistulas (AVF) are the preferred choice for vascular access in hemodialysis. We aim to identify factors that may contribute to AVF failure. Methods: Data regarding AVF survival were collected from 441 patients. All AVFs were either radial or brachial, of the end-to-side variety. Parameters studied were age, gender, diabetes mellitus, hypertension prior to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), site of fistula, blood flow rate, venous pressure, dialysis vintage and frequency, needle gauge used during dialysis, year of fistula creation, and details of fistula failure. Findings: The 6-month, 1-year and 2-year AVF survival rates were 98.41%, 95.01%, and 89.57%. Failure rates were 17.2%, 5.5%, 26.8%, and 14.4% for dominant radial, non-dominant radial, dominant brachial and non-dominant brachial respectively (P < 0.001). Using a larger needle size had better AVF survival rate (P < 0.05). All other factors had no significant correlation with AVF failure. Conclusion: There were no statistically significant differences in AVF patency with respect to gender, age, blood flow rate, presence of diabetes mellitus or systemic hypertension. A distally placed AVF in the nondominant arm had the best survival rate. Using a larger needle size, specifically 15G during dialysis, was associated with lowest AVF failure.     

Transposed Basilic Vein-Brachial Arteriovenous Fistula: An Alternative Vascular Access for Hemodialysis

Twenty-five brachial-basilic arteriovenous (AV) fistulas with transposed basilic vein for alternative vascular access were created in 22 chronic hemodialysis patients. This surgical procedure was performed under brachial block or general anesthesia. After a longitudinal skin incision that was made in the inner side of the arm, the basilic vein was exposed, transposed subcutaneously, and anastomosed end-to-side to the brachial artery. The follow-up was between 7 and 24 months. Early complications were hemorrhage, thrombosis, steal syndrome, and swelling of the arm. Among the late complications were failure of the fistula because of thrombosis and multiple stenosis at the site of venipuncture. The accumulated one-year patency rate of fistulas was 81%. The complications of high-output cardiac failure or local infection were not seen in our study. On the basis of our results, the brachial-basilic AV fistula with transposed basilic vein is a useful and safe second- or third-choice vascular procedure for hemodialysis patients, in particular for women without good quality of vessels.