Evaluating the Impact of an Aggressive Strategy to Create Wrist Arterio-Venous Fistula in Patients on Hemodialysis

Abstract

Objectives

To compare two approaches to hemodialysis arterio-venous fistula (AVF) creation, and to evaluate the benefit of expanding wrist-AVF selection criteria.

Background

The recommendation summarized under the Dialysis Outcome and Quality Initiative (DOQI) suggests the placement of a wrist-AVF as a first choice for patients starting hemodialysis. However, its benign complications contrast with its high early failure rates. In the absence of predictors of a successful access, decision on whether or not to attempt such an access depends on the subjective clinical judgment.

Methods

This is a retrospective study of patients with ESRD disease in Southern Alberta who underwent a vascular access creation during the year 2000. The surgery was performed by 2 surgeons each having his own approach to access selection (approach A and B). Approach A had broader criteria (vessels < 3 mm) for wrist-AVF creation, whereas approach B was more conservative, thus limiting the selection to patients with wrist vessels superior to 3 mm. The type of simultaneous access created in the same limb was dependant of this first choice. A Markov decision tree analysis was used to model yearly transition between patent and failed access. The absence of further possibility of access creation in the same arm was taken as a time horizon. Sensitivity analysis was used to test the effect of maximizing a wrist-AVF on overall arm failure.

Results

In approach A there was 69% of wrist AVF creation as the first type of access compared to 31% in approach B. A two-year wrist-AVF patency was 80% in approach B versus 61% in approach A. The expected mean time to complete limb failure was longer in patients treated with approach A (3.62 versus 3.50 years). Sensitivity analysis showed an ultimate benefit for approach A.

Conclusion

Wrist vessel size less than 3 mm should not be a limiting factor for the creation of a wrist-AVF. Maximizing the creation of such an access, despite increasing the rate of early failure, prolongs the option of hemodialysis access in the same arm.