MO659INITIAL EXPERIENCE OF PERCUTANEOUS ARTERIOVENOUS FISTULA CREATION

Abstract

\n \n \n Arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) for hemodialysis are inconstantly used primarily due to problems with maturation and early thrombosis. An endovascular approach -without open surgery- for fistula creation offers another option for establishing a reliable vascular access. By this procedure, a arteriovenous fistula is created in the area of the cubital fossa in the deep vascular system, either between the ulnar artery and the accompanying vein or the radial artery and radial vein and uses the perforating vein at the level of the elbow to transfer blood to the superficial network of the arm.\n \n \n \n To evaluate the safety, success and maturation rates of percutaneous arteriovenous fistula creation.\n \n \n \n From February 2018 to June 2020 (28 months), 30 percutaneous arteriovenous fistulas (pAVF) using the WavelinQ device were created in 30 patients (male: 100%) with end stage kidney disease. Outcome measures were safety, defined as adverse events occurring within the first month of creation, success, defined as the ability to create an anastomosis between the vessels of interest and maturation rates, defined as the ability to perform at least one successful dialysis with the AVF. Secondary outcome measures included procedural complications, secondary procedures, time to cannulation, and AVF survival.\n \n \n \n All cases were performed as day procedures. 23 out of 30 patients (70%) were already on hemodialysis carrying a permanent central venous catheter. Main comorbidities were hypertension (21/30; 70%), diabetes (15/30; 50%) while 11/30 (30.5%) were smokers. Success was 100% (30/30). Mean follow-up was 547 days (range: 14-1071 days). In one case a pseudoaneurysm of the brachial artery was created immediately after sheath removal and in another case, an aneurysm of the AVF anastomosis was observed 17 days post-procedure and AVF was legated with a covered stent placed in the arterial part. In all, 26/30 AVFs (86.6%) were successfully cannulated. Mean time to cannulation was 61.3 days. Another one failed after maturation during the follow-up period. In total, 15 interventions were needed to achieve maturation (15/26; 0.58 procedures per AVF). 5 maintenance endovascular interventions were performed during the follow-up period (5/26; 19.2%). Mean time from cannulation to the end of follow up was 566.2 days (range: 135-1041 days).\n \n \n \n Current analysis suggests that percutaneous AVF creation is safe, successfully performed with high maturation rates. Large scale prospective studies are needed to validate results.\n