Risk factors predicting the successful function and use of autogenous arteriovenous fistulae for hemodialysis.

BACKGROUND For patients with end-stage renal failure hemodialysis with an autogenous arteriovenous fistula (AVF) has proven to be the ideal vascular access. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to discover potential predictors of a well-functioning hemodialysis fistula. METHODS From December 2009 to March 2011, 80 patients undergoing first time AVF creation were enrolled in our retrospective study. We analyzed pre- and postoperative vessel diameters and flow characteristics gained by duplex ultrasonography (DUS) and intraoperative ultrasound transit-time flow measurements regarding intraoperative blood flow and pulsatility index (PI). Follow-up was defined until the end of the first month with regular hemodialysis, 10 weeks after AVF creation. We performed statistical analyses by employing Spearman correlation, t test, analysis of variance, χ2 test, and receiver operating characteristics (ROC). RESULTS At the end of the follow-up, 62 patients (78%) featured functioning AVFs and 18 patients (22%) featured nonfunctioning AVFs. Factors influencing AVF function were radial artery diameter (χ2 = 5.23, p = 0.02), intraoperative flow (χ2 = 7.09, p = 0.01), intraoperative PI (χ2 = 6.5, p = 0.01), and postoperative flow (χ2 = 16.29, p = 0.01). According to the ROC analyses, we could develop cut-off values for predicting an ideal AVF function: radial artery diameter more than 2.3 mm, cephalic vein diameter more than 2.7 mm, intraoperative mean flow more than 113 mL/min, PI less than 1.4, and postoperative mean flow more than 160 mL/min. CONCLUSION Intraoperative ultrasound transit-time flow measurements gained at surgery and postoperative follow-up with DUS can help identify AVFs that are unlikely to function and therefore need early intervention.