Trends in Arteriovenous Fistula Use at Dialysis Initiation After Automated eGFR Reporting (original) (raw)

Achieving the Goal of the Fistula First Breakthrough Initiative for Prevalent Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients

American Journal of Kidney Diseases, 2011

Background-The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) established a national goal of 66% arterio-venous fistula (AVF) use among prevalent hemodialysis (HD) patients for the current Fistula First Breakthrough Initiative (FFBI). The feasibility of achieving the goal has been debated. We examined contemporary patterns of AVF use among prevalent patients to assess the potential for attaining the goal by dialysis facilities and their associated end-stage renal disease (ESRD) Networks in the United States (US).

Vascular Access Care and Treatment Practices Associated with Outcomes of Arteriovenous Fistula: International Comparisons from the Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study

Nephron Clinical Practice, 2013

Background: Vascular access (VA) guidelines recommend the native arteriovenous fistula (AVF) as VA of first choice for chronic hemodialysis patients. AVF management is important in hemodialysis patient care. AVF survival is associated with various physical factors, but the effects of dialysis treatment factors upon AVF survival are still not clear. Methods: Study patients were treated at 498 dialysis facilities participating in the Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS) 2 or 3 (2002-2007). Analyses included 1,183 incident hemodialysis patients (on dialysis ≤7 days and using an AVF at study entry) and 949 prevalent patients (on dialysis >7 days at DOPPS entry and using a new AVF created during study observation). AVF survival was modeled from the study entry date for incident patients and date of first AVF use for prevalent patients. Predictors of primary and final AVF survival were compared across Japan, North America and Europe/Australia/New Zealand (EUR/ANZ) with...

Original Investigation Prevalence of Arteriovenous Fistulas in Incident Hemodialysis Patients: Correlation With Patient Factors That May Be Associated With Maturation Failure

American Journal of Kidney Diseases

Background: Lok et al previously reported a risk equation for arteriovenous fistula (AVF) maturation failure. It is unclear whether this model or a more comprehensive model correlates with incident AVF use in the US hemodialysis population. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting & Participants: 195,756 adult patients initiating outpatient hemodialysis therapy in the United States between July 1, 2005, and December 31, 2009, with 6 months or more prior nephrology care. Predictor: Patient characteristics (age, peripheral vascular disease, coronary artery disease, and race) populating the AVF maturation failure risk equation and other demographic and clinical variables from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Medical Evidence Report (CMS 2728). Outcomes & Measurements: AVF use at first outpatient dialysis treatment as recorded on the CMS 2728. Results: Using the risk categories defined by Lok et al, AVF use varied from 19.0% (very high risk) to 25.6% (low risk). In...

Accelerated increase of arteriovenous fistula use in haemodialysis centres: results of the multicentre CIMINO initiative

Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, 2007

Background. In the Netherlands, arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) are used in 60-65% of the haemodialysis patients and this compares poorly with the European average. A multicentre guidelines implementation programme, CIMINO, was initiated aiming at increasing the use of AVFs. Methods. Physicians and dialysis staff in 11 participating centres (N ¼ 1092 vascular accesses) were strongly and repeatedly advised to adhere to current guidelines with extra attention for pre-operative duplex examination and salvaging of failing and failed fistulae. Specially appointed access nurses prospectively registered all created vascular accesses using an internetlinked database. In 22 other centres (N ¼ 1566 accesses), the CIMINO programme was not offered and they were considered the control group. Results. On 1 January 2006, average follow-up time of the CIMINO group and the control group were 13.3 months and 34.1 months, respectively. A total of 598 new vascular accesses (77% AVFs) were created in the CIMINO group. Prevalent AVF use increased from 58.5% (range: 31-79%) to 62.7% (range: 45-83%) in the CIMINO group and from 65.5% (range: 31-91%) to 67.3% (range: 42-91%) in the control group. The increase in AVF use per year was significantly quicker than in the control group (P < 0.05). Use of untunnelled catheters decreased whereas that of tunnelled catheters increased. Conclusions. This initiative shows that a multicentre guidelines implementation programme results in an accelerated increase of AVF use in comparison with a time control group. These data suggest that the choice of access placement depends predominantly on centrespecific factors.

Barriers to timely arteriovenous fistula creation: A study of providers and patients

2011

Background: Current clinical practice guidelines recommend a native arteriovenous fistula (AVF) as the vascular access of first choice. Despite this, most patients in western countries start hemodialysis therapy using a catheter. Little is known regarding specific physician and system characteristics that may be responsible for delays in permanent access creation.

Failure of arteriovenous fistula maturation: an unintended consequence of exceeding Dialysis Outcome Quality Initiative guidelines for hemodialysis access

Journal of Vascular Surgery, 2003

Purpose: The Dialysis Outcome Quality Initiative (DOQI) guidelines recommend that arteriovenous fistulas (AVF) be constructed in at least 50% of hemodialysis access procedures. Preoperative duplex ultrasound (US) scanning and venography may increase options for AVF with identification of veins that are not clinically evident. However, maturation of autogenous fistulas created on the basis of findings at duplex US scanning and venography has not been carefully examined. Methods: From January 1999 to July 2002, 256 new hemodialysis access procedures were performed in 202 patients in an academic tertiary care center. If physical examination failed to disclose adequate vessels for hemodialysis access, patients underwent duplex US scanning mapping. Venography was performed when no usable vein or only a basilic vein was identified at duplex US scanning. Functional maturation rate and mean maturation time (time from fistula creation to initiation of hemodialysis) were determined. This experience was compared with that in a group of 128 patients in whom 148 hemodialysis access fistulas were created before we implemented liberal use of preoperative duplex US scanning and venography (, preoperative duplex US scanning was performed in 68% of patients, and venography in 32% of patients. Autogenous fistula creation rate increased from 61% to 73% in all patients with hemodialysis access fistulas (P ‫؍‬ .15) and from 66% to 83% in patients undergoing a first access procedure (P < .05). The use of basilic vein transposition also increased, from 3% in the earlier period to 13% in the later period (P < .05). Mean maturation time for arteriovenous fistulas was 70 days. Functional maturation rate decreased from 73% to 57% (P < .05) after implementation of preoperative imaging and more aggressive vein use. Conclusion: Implementation of preoperative duplex US scanning and venography as a component of a more aggressive protocol to create native fistulas was pivotal in exceeding DOQI guidelines for hemodialysis access. However, this approach resulted in the unintended sequela of decreased fistula maturation rate. Our experience suggests that improved selection criteria based on findings at preoperative imaging are needed to further refine and optimize arteriovenous access surgery. (J Vasc Surg 2003;38:439-45.)

Hospital specific aspects predominantly determine primary failure of hemodialysis arteriovenous fistulas

Journal of Vascular Surgery, 2007

Background: Primary failure of the arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is a major problem affecting native hemodialysis access use. A multicenter guideline implementation program, Care Improvement by Multidisciplinary approach for Increase of Native vascular access Obtainment (CIMINO), was designed to identify modifiable and nonmodifiable factors involved in the early functionality of the AVF. Methods: Physicians and dialysis staff in 11 centers in the Netherlands (N ‫؍‬ 1092 prevalent vascular accesses) were strongly and repeatedly advised to adhere to current guidelines. It was advised to always perform a standard preoperative duplex examination and physicians were encouraged to attempt salvaging procedures for failing and failed fistulae. Specially appointed access nurses prospectively registered all created vascular accesses in an internet-linked database. Primary failure (PF) was defined as a complication of the AVF before the first successful cannulation for hemodialysis treatment. Modifiable and nonmodifiable factors were related to risk of primary failure using logistic regression models. We restricted the analyses to the first AVF of each patient that was placed during the observation period. Results: Between May 2004 and May 2006, an AVF was created in 395 patients. Primary failure occurred in one third (131 cases). Factors related to an increased risk of primary failure were female gender (odds ratio (OR): 1.73, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01-2.94), renal replacement therapy prior to AVF placement (OR: 1.19 per year on RRT, CI: 1.05-1.34), diabetes mellitus (OR: 3.08, CI: 1.53-6.20), and AVF placement at the wrist (compared with elbow) (OR: 1.86, CI: 1.03-3.36). Primary failure rate among the participating centers varied from 8% to 50%. Compared to the two centers with the lowest primary failure rates, six centers had a significantly higher primary failure rate. Adjustment for risk factors and surgery-related factors did not materially change the center-related findings. Conclusion: In conclusion, we have identified location of AVF placement as a modifiable factor influencing primary failure risk. More importantly, this study shows that the probability of primary failure is strongly related to the center of access creation, suggesting an important role for the vascular surgeon's skills and decisions.

Cardiovascular Comorbidity and Late Referral Impact Arteriovenous Fistula Survival: A Prospective Multicenter Study

Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 2004

Autologous arteriovenous fistulas (AVF) have the best 5-yr patency and the lowest complication rate among hemodialysis vascular accesses. However, maturation requirements to optimize survival are unknown. A longitudinal cohort study was conducted to ascertain risk factors for failure, maturation time, and survival of the first AVF. All patients who initiated hemodialysis between January 1, 1997, and December 31, 2002, in three centers were included in this study. Analysis was restricted to patients who received an AVF. Cox regression was used to estimate the association between predictors of interest and primary and secondary AVF survival. Of the 535 patients enrolled (mean age, 66.5 yr; 57.8% male; 26.7% diabetic), 513 (96%) received an AVF. Patients who initiated with catheters (47%) cannulated their AVF earlier (median maturation period, 0.78 versus 1.80 mo; P Ͻ 0.001). Median