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Background The aim of this study was to determine associations between characteristics of arteriovenous access (AVA) flow volume (Qa; mL/min) and 4-year freedom from cardiovascular mortality (CVM) in haemodialysis (HD) patients. Methods HD patients who received a primary AVA between January 2010 and December 2017 in one centre were analysed. Initial Qa was defined as the first Qa value obtained in a well-functioning AVA by a two-needle dilution technique. Actual Qa was defined as access flow at a random point in time. Changes in actual Qa were expressed per 3-month period. CVM was assessed according to the European Renal Association–European Dialysis and Transplant Association classification. The optimal cut-off point for initial Qa was identified by a receiver operating characteristics curve. A joint modelling statistical technique determined longitudinal associations between Qa characteristics and 4-year CVM. Results A total of 5208 Qa measurements (165 patients; 103 male, age 70 ± 12 years, autologous AVA n = 146, graft n = 19) were analysed. During follow-up (December 2010–January 2018, median 36 months), 79 patients (48%) died. An initial Qa Conclusions Studying novel AVA Qa characteristics may contribute to understanding excess CVM in HD patients.

Objective: Revision using distal inflow (RUDI) is currently proposed in patients on hemodialysis having a high flow access (HFA; >2 L/min) or hemodialysis access-induced distal ischemia (HAIDI). However, a recurrence of high flow or hand ischemia is not unusual in the years after RUDI. The aim of the present study was to describe changes in flow characteristics and arterial diameters in the dialysis arm after RUDI for HFA.Methods: Volume flow, diameter, peak systolic velocity and end diastolic velocity of the brachial artery (BA) were studied 2 and 12 months after RUDI using duplex imaging. In a portion of patients, these characteristics were also assessed at proximal and distal portions of radial and ulnar arteries (proximal forearm radial artery, distal radial artery, ulnar artery, and distal ulnar artery), and in the greater saphenous venous interponate. HFA patients were grouped according to presence of concomitant hand ischemia (HFA-HAIDI) or absence (HFA).Results: Fifteen patients (54 +/- 16 year old; 10 males; HFA-HAIDI, n = 6; HFA, n = 9) with a BA HFA (flow volume, 2740 6 322 mL/min) undergoing RUDI were studied between March 2011 and October 2016 in two Dutch hospitals. After 2 months, flow volume had decreased (1180 +/- 189 mL/min), but again increased at 12 months (1520 +/- 217 mL/min; P Conclusions: RUDI for HFA reduction does not reverse BA dilatation, suggesting irreversible structural arterial wall damage possibly contributing to recurrent high flow. Radial artery remodeling is attenuated in HFA patients previously reporting concurrent hand ischemia diminishing the likelihood of high flow recurrence in this subgroup.

Introduction: Some hemodialysis patients with a brachial arteriovenous fistula (AVF) have an unsuitable upper arm needle access segment (NAS) necessitating basilic vein transposition (BVT). It was frequently observed that a portion of these patients spontaneously experienced a warmer and less painful dialysis hand after BVT. Aim of this study was to determine whether BVT for an inadequate NAS attenuated hemodialysis access-induced distal ischemia in patients with a brachial AVF. Methods: Patients with a brachial AVF and an unsuitable NAS also reporting hand ischemia and scheduled to undergo BVT between 2005 and 2016 in a single facility were studied. Hand ischemia was graded as proposed in a 2016 consensus meeting. Hand ischemic questionnaire (HIQ-) scores (0 points, no ischemia—500 points, maximal ischemia), digital brachial index (DBI, ischemia

Objectives: Upper arm arteriovenous fistulas (AVF) occasionally develop high flow. Revision using distal inflow (RUDI) effectively reduces flow of high flow accesses (HFA) in the short-term and is also popularised for treatment of haemodialysis access induced distal ischaemia (HAIDI). The long-term efficacy is unknown. The study's aim was to report on 3 year RUDI patency and recurrence rates for HFA with and without HAIDI. Material and methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients with a HFA with or without HAIDI undergoing RUDI using greater saphenous vein (GSV) interposition between March 2011 and October 2017 at three facilities. AVFs were termed HFA if flow volumes exceeded 2 L/min on two consecutive measurements using dilution techniques. HAIDI was diagnosed as recommended. Following RUDI, follow up was not different from standard care in AVF patients. Data on post-operative flows and re-interventions were extracted from electronic patient files. Loss to follow up was avoided. Rates of patency and HFA recurrence were analysed. Results: During the observation period, 21 patients were studied (7 females, 54 years +/- 3). Fourteen had uncomplicated HFA whereas seven had additional HAIDI. Immediately post-operatively, flows decreased threefold (3120 mL/min +/- 171 vs. 1170 mL/min +/- 87, p

Objective Haemodialysis access induced distal ischemia (HAIDI) induced by an autogenous arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is caused by loss of blood pressure somewhere along the arterial blood supply of the arm. In some patients, side branches of the access' venous outflow tract may contribute to this blood pressure loss. Beneficial effects of side branch ligation (SBL) as a first step approach to ischemic symptoms have been reported. However, effects on access flow and AVF function after prolonged follow up are unknown. Materials and methods Prior to SBL, HAIDI patients with a brachial artery based AVF were studied using a questionnaire quantifying hand ischemia, digital brachial index (DBI, finger plethysmography), and Duplex analysis. Access flow volume, patency rates, hand perfusion, and complications were determined during a 12 month observation period following SBL. Results In 9 years, SBLs were performed in 20 haemodialysis patients, either as a single operative procedure ( n = 10) or supplemented ( n = 10) with additional surgical techniques during the same procedure (banding, n = 5; basilic vein transposition, n = 4; DRIL, n = 1). Follow up data after 12 months were available in 18 patients. One patient with progressive hand ischemia required access ligation 3 months after SBL. Hand ischemia was attenuated or abolished in the remaining 17 patients (94% clinical success rate). DBI improved from 0.51 ± 0.05 (pre-operative) to 0.68 ± 0.04 (immediate post-operative) and 0.83 ± 0.07 (at 1 year follow up). One year primary, assisted primary, and secondary patency rates were 67% (12/18), 83% (15/18), and 94% (17/18), respectively, while mean access flows remained acceptable at 710 ± 70 mL/min. Conclusions Ligation of non-functional venous side branches of an autogenous brachial artery AVF causing hand ischemia leads to prolonged attenuation of hand ischemia whereas access flow volumes are maintained after 1 year of follow up. Side branch ligation must be considered prior to embarking on more invasive surgery for HAIDI.

Objective: Hand ischemia may occur in the presence of a hemodialysis arteriovenous fistula (AVF), but its pathophysiology is partly unclear. The aim of this observational study was to investigate flow characteristics of forearm arteries in patients with a brachial artery-based AVF suffering from hemodialysis access-induced distal ischemia (HAIDI). Methods: A questionnaire scored hand ischemia in patients with HAIDI scheduled for revisional surgery (no symptoms of ischemia, 0 points; maximal ischemia, 500 points). Systolic index finger pressures (P-dig) and digital brachial index (DBI) were determined with open and compressed AVF. Blood flow direction and peak systolic velocity (PSV) were measured in radial and ulnar arteries using Doppler ultrasonography. Age-and sex-matched hemodialysis patients without HAIDI served as controls (CONT). Results: Questionnaire scores were 258 +/- 30 in patients with HAIDI (n = 10) compared with 31 +/- 16 in CONT (n = 10; P

Item does not contain fulltext OBJECTIVE: Autogenous arteriovenous hemodialysis (HD) access may develop high flow (>2 L/min) over time. Reducing flow volume of a high-flow access (HFA) using a surgical banding technique has been reported to be successful in the short-term. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of banding in HFAs in terms of freedom from recurrence of high flow during a 1-year follow-up. METHODS: All HD patients undergoing surgical banding of an HFA during an 8-year period in three hospitals were retrospectively studied. Access flow data, freedom of recurrent high flow, and complications were analyzed during a 12-month postoperative observation period. RESULTS: A total of 50 patients (30 males; age, 51 +/- 2 years) were available for analysis. Banding was performed 30 +/- 6 months after arteriovenous access construction. Most of the HFA patients (56%) required medication for hypertension, but diabetes mellitus and peripheral arterial obstructive disease were seldom observed (6% and 12%, respectively). Most HFAs (96%) were brachial artery-based fistulas (brachiocephalic: 56%, basilic vein transposition: 40%, radiocephalic: 4%). Banding initially reduced access flow by >50% (3070 +/- 95 vs 1490 +/- 105 mL/min, P < .001). Recurrent high flow (>2 L/min) developed in 52% of the patients during the observation period. Young age (45 +/- 3 vs 57 +/- 3 years; P = .02) and an access flow >1 L/min immediately after banding (P = .03) were risk factors for recurrent high flow. CONCLUSIONS: An immediate postbanding access flow >1 L/min and young age are risk factors for recurrent high flow in a banded brachial artery-based HD access during a 1-year follow-up.

Purpose Flow reduction is advised in hemodialysis (HD) patients with a high-flow (>2 L/min) arteriovenous fistula (AVF). The revision using distal inflow (RUDI) technique is based on the premise that access flow is attenuated once inflow is provided by a smaller caliber forearm artery. Aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of RUDI during a 1-year follow-up. Methods All HD patients undergoing a RUDI operation using a greater saphenous vein (GSV) or a basilic vein (BaV) interposition for a high-flow access (HFA, >2 L/min) during a 3.5-year time period were included. Serial access flow, percentage of freedom from recurrent high flow and complications were determined. Results A total of 19 HFA patients were studied (11 males, age 55 ± 3 years). All AVFs were brachial artery based (brachiocephalic, n = 14; brachiobasilic, n = 5). RUDI immediately reduced access flow by almost 2 L/min (3,080 ± 200 to 1,170 ± 160 mL/min (p = 0.001)). Access flows at 1, 6 and 12 months were 1,150 ± 160, 1,460 ± 200 and 1,580 ± 260 mL/min, respectively. Postoperative complications included insufficient flow reduction (n = 1, BaV) and occlusion requiring revision (n = 1, GSV). Recurrent HFA occurred three times (n = 2 BaV, n = 1 GSV). Access flows were significantly (pConclusions RUDI effectively reduces access flow in a brachial artery-based high-flow HD vascular access. A flow-reducing effect is sustained at 1-year follow-up in most patients. GSV is preferred as an interposition graft compared to a BaV.

Purpose Absolute treatment criteria for reducing the access volume of a high-flow access (HFA, access flow >2 L/min) are absent. Previous studies suggested that a HFA may influence the systemic circulation including blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR). The aim of this study was to determine these parameters after access clamping in hemodialysis patients undergoing flow-reducing access surgery. Methods Systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP) and HR in HFA patients undergoing flow-reducing surgery were measured intraoperatively before and after access clamping. Data were compared to values obtained in patients receiving surgery for severe hand ischemia due to an access (HAIDI, hemodialysis access-induced distal ischemia). Results In 8 years, 34 patients underwent surgery for HFA (n=23) or HAIDI (n=11). Preoperative access flows in HFA were larger compared to HAIDI (3,026±147 vs 1,078±139 mL/min, respectively, p 2-2.5 L/min. Conclusions HFA may influence systemic hemodynamics in some hemodialysis patients. The findings of this study may contribute to a tailored management of a high-flow fistula in this population.