Influence of intraoperative findings on immediate flow through radial-cephalic arteriovenous wrist fistulas for hemodialysis access.

BACKGROUND: Adequate flow through a newly created arteriovenous fistula depends on multiple characteristics of the vessels and patient comorbidities. Several studies have related preoperative findings to failure, but few have analyzed the influence of intraoperative findings.
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the predictive value of intraoperative findings on the immediate outcome of radial-cephalic arteriovenous wrist fistulas (RCAVF) by collecting data that are easily measured intraoperatively.
METHODS: We designed a cross-sectional study, in which a single surgeon performed 101 RCAVF in 100 patients at a single center. We analyzed the immediate postoperative flow, assessed by thrill intensity immediately after fistula creation, against patient demographics and intraoperative data. The following variables were analyzed: age, sex, comorbidities, length of vein visible at preoperative examination, macroscopic arterial calcification, maximum vein diameter, and length of stenosis-free vein, measured by cannulation with a urethral catheter during the procedure. The chi-square test was used both to eliminate possible bias introduced by side of venous access (left or right), and to determine predictive values of immediate thrill.
RESULTS: Side of access was not associated with any significant differences in variables. Absence of macroscopic arterial calcification, successful venous catheterization using a 6 French catheter or larger, and ability to advance it more than 10 centimeters along the lumen of the proximal vein were correlated with adequate immediate postoperative thrill (p = 0.004, p < 0.001, and p = 0.005, respectively).
CONCLUSIONS: In this series of 101 RCAVF, both the diameter of the catheter and its progress through the proximal vein and also absence of arterial calcification had positive predictive value for achieving adequate immediate thrill after vascular access construction.

INTRODUCTION

Creation of a chronic vascular access for hemodialysis (HD) became reality in 1960 and was the result of the combined efforts of a surgeon and a nephrologist, who designed a U-shaped device that allowed both arterial and venous access, making hemodialysis feasible for end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients. 1 While the Quinton-Scribner shunt was a breakthrough for ESKD treatment, it was associated with a high incidence of complications, mainly involving thrombosis and infections. 2

In 1966, Michael Brescia and James Cimino first described creation of a radial-cephalic arteriovenous wrist fistula (RCAVF) to provide access for HD, offering greater patency and lower risk of complications. 3 Today, fifty years after that pioneering report, the RCAVF is still the access of choice for ESKD when anatomy is suitable. 4 Over the years, technical aspects of arteriovenous fistulas (AVF) have been reported that make long-term HD feasible, depending on inherent patient characteristics. 5 - 8

Although RCAVF is the first option for ESKD, it has a high rate of failure to mature, which can be as high as 40%. 9 Adequate flow rates have a direct influence on the effectiveness of HD and, therefore, on morbidity and mortality of ESKD patients. 4 , 10 Several studies have analyzed the influence of preoperative examination and vein mapping on the patency of AVF. 11 - 14

However, irrespective of preoperative investigations, surgeons are sometimes faced with intraoperative findings that differ from preoperative imaging exams, creating a need for studies of the impact that variables that can be identified during surgery have on the outcome of the procedure, enabling better decision making during surgery.

Auscultation of bruit with a stethoscope and the tactile sensation of thrill on palpation of AVF immediately after creation are related to spiral laminar flow through the vessel, which is associated with a higher probability of correctly maturing AVF. 15 - 18 Thrill intensity is the only one of these parameters that can be acted upon when observed during the surgical procedure.

We have previously published a pilot analysis of 39 AVF, including distal and upper arm AVF, venous transpositions, and an arteriovenous graft, evaluating intraoperative findings that are easily obtained during the procedure and their impact on immediate venous access thrill. Although it was a small series, we found statistically significant correlations for satisfactory immediate thrill and the feasibility of cannulating the vein in a segment exceeding 10 centimeters in length. 19 Since that first study included multiple different types of surgical accesses, confidence in the results may not be reliable, due to possible bias from confounding variables, such as which side the procedure is conducted on, and the different flow patterns at different access sites. We have therefore chosen to focus on a single type of AVF, the RCAVF.

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the predictive value of intraoperative findings easily acquirable during the procedure on the thrill assessed immediately after creation of RCAVF.

METHOD

This is a cross-sectional study. Data were collected from 100 patients with ESKD, all scheduled to undergo RCAVF creation, performed by the same surgeon (ACP), at the ABC Integrated Center of Nephrology (CINABC) from 2012 to 2015.

The inclusion criteria were all patients with ESKD with technical feasibility for RCAVF creation. The exclusion criteria were a positive Allen’s test and absence of a suitable cephalic vein at wrist level during the preoperative physical examination.

Preoperative assessment

All patients underwent Allen’s test and venous mapping by physical examination, placing a tourniquet on the proximal forearm, immediately distal to the cubital fossa, while the patient clenched and released the ipsilateral hand several times. This maneuver enabled observation of the maximum extension of cephalic vein visible above the wrist. Ultrasound venous mapping was not performed as routine, because of lack of access to our patients to perform duplex scanning.

Surgical procedure

All procedures were undertaken under local anesthesia, with 2% Lidocaine solution via a longitudinal incision. The cephalic vein was cannulated with a urethral catheter, made of soft polyvinyl chloride (PVC), with a size ranging from 4 to 10 French (Fr), which was used to measure the vein diameter and dilate the vessel with saline solution. This is a common practice at our institution, because there is less intraluminal trauma, when compared to coronary probes. We then measured the length of stenosis-free vein by introducing the catheter into the vein lumen, and classified the patient into one of two groups: Group I, if the catheter advanced more than 10 centimeters (cm), or Group II, if the catheter could not be advanced by 10 cm.

The radial artery was exposed with minimal dissection; arterial flow was interrupted by traction of silicone ribbons, followed by longitudinal arteriotomy and venotomy. At this point of the procedure, macroscopic arterial calcification is identified if present. An arteriovenous anastomoses was constructed with continuous 6-0 or 7-0 polypropylene suture, by a modified lateral-lateral technique, as described by Galego et al. 20 Immediately after completion of the anastomosis, the immediate flow in the venous access is evaluated by grading thrill at the anastomosis region, defining it as absent, weak, medium, or strong thrill. Weak and negative thrills were grouped as inadequate thrill, and medium and strong thrills were classified as adequate thrill.

Variables evaluated

The following variables were analyzed: side of AVF creation, comorbidities, vein length at physical examination, diameter of urethral catheter used during procedure, progress of catheter inside vein lumen, presence of arterial calcification, and thrill intensity identified immediately after completion of the procedure.

Ethics

Informed consent was obtained from all patients prior to the procedure, and the Medical Ethics Committee of Heliopolis Hospital approved the study, registered as CEP 809, under protocol number 443457.

Statistical analysis

In order to avoid confounding bias caused by anatomic differences between right and left arms, all variables were compared by side of AVF creation, using the chi-square test. They were later compared by thrill intensity after the procedure, using univariate analysis with the chi-square test. Results with p-values below 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Analyses were performed using STATA software version 1.

RESULTS

From 2012 to 2015, 100 patients were enrolled on the study. A total of 101 RCAVF were performed at CINABC. Demographic data for the subjects are given in Table 1 . The majority of the patients were male (73.27%), and the most frequent etiologies of kidney failure were hypertension and diabetes. Mean age was 60.19 years, and 42.57% of patients were over the age of 65 years. Diabetes was defined as adult onset, controlled with diet or insulin, or juvenile onset as described by SVS reporting standards. Similarly, hypertension was defined as diastolic blood pressure greater than 90 mmHg, or blood pressure controlled with one or more anti-hypertensive medications. One patient underwent procedures on both sides, due to early thrombosis of the venous access.

Table 1

Demographic and clinical data on the study population.

Characteristics	Number (%)
Total RCAVF in analysis	101
Side of AVF
Left	71 (70.3%)
Right	30 (29.7%)
Age
Mean	60,19
Over 65	43
Gender
Male	74 (73.27%)
Female	27 (26.73%)
Comorbidities
Hypertension	78.22%
Diabetes mellitus	42.57%
Other *	23.76%

Other: Glomerulonephritis, Congestive heart failure, Viral Hepatitis, History of Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Systemic lupus erythematosum, post renal obstruction, non steroidal analgesics toxicity.

Most of the procedures were performed on the left arm (70.3%). The chi-square test detected no statistically significant differences in any of the anatomical variables associated with the side on which the procedure was performed, as shown in Table 2 . This enabled us to analyze all procedures together without considering the side.

Table 2

Anatomical comparison by side of procedure.

Characteristics	Right	Left	p-value
Vein extension at PE
1	7	10	0.626
2	6	20
3	10	22
4	7	19
Vein Caliber
4Fr	1	3	0.074
6Fr	16	53
8Fr	13	15
Catheter Progression
Less than 10 cm	4	15	0.360
More than 10 cm	26	56
Calcification
Present	20	46	0.856
Absent	10	25
Thrill Intensity
Adequate	26	58	0.541
Inadequate	4	13

Fr = French; PE = physical examination.

An adequate immediate thrill was achieved in 84% of the procedures. The remaining 16% underwent upper-arm AVF creation during the same operation. Table 3 summarizes the analysis of intraoperative findings with relation to immediate postoperative thrill. Presence of arterial calcification visible macroscopically during the procedure is associated with inadequate flow through the venous access immediately after anastomosis creation (p = 0.04).

Table 3

Immediate postoperative flow, by preoperative and intraoperative findings.

Characteristics	Inadequate thrill	Adequate thrill	p-value
Age
Under 65	9	49	0.682
Over 65	8	35
Sex
Male	12	62	0.784
Female	5	22
Diabetes Mellitus	9	34	0.343
Hypertension	12	67	0.403
Vein extension at PE
1	4	13	0.214
2	6	20
3	6	26
4	1	25
Vein Caliber
4Fr	3	1	0.005 *
6Fr	11	58
8Fr	3	25
Catheter Progression
< 10 cm	11	8	< 0.001 *
> 10 cm	6	76
Calcification
Present	11	24	0.004 *
Absent	6	60

Statistical significance on chi-square test.

It was also observed that successful venous catheterization using a 6Fr catheter or larger and ability to advance it along more than 10 centimeters of stenosis- free lumen were related to higher intensity of thrill at the end of the procedure (p = 0.005 and p < 0.01, respectively).

DISCUSSION

The main goal of AVF creation is to obtain a venous access that allows repeated cannulation, providing sufficient flow to perform adequate dialysis sessions on a long-term basis. Although an RCAVF is considered the gold standard for hemodialysis access, because of its lower blood flow compared to an upper arm AVF, the literature reports high rates of failure to mature, ranging from 9% to 40%. 21 , 22 In our series, inadequate flow was found in 16.83%.

According to Kidney Disease Outcome Quality (KDOQI) guidelines, the main etiologies of ESKD are hypertension and diabetes. 4 This was confirmed in our findings, as these conditions were present in 79% and 42.57%, respectively.

In the literature, female gender, increasing age, and diabetes mellitus are related to poor results. 6 , 8 , 23 , 24 Jemcov et al. found that females had smaller arteries and that radial-cephalic AVF took longer to mature in women, but they had higher venous access flow compared to men. 13 Diabetes has been associated with poor AVF results, and lower blood flow, probably due to its influence on accelerating atherosclerosis progression on distal arteries. 8 , 22 , 25 In our series, these factors had no significant influence on AVF outcome.

Although increasing age is related to poor-quality veins, more advanced stages of atherosclerosis, and higher incidence of comorbidities, there is no consensus on whether age is related to AVF failure. The AVF recommendations in KDOQI guidelines do not distinguish between younger and older patients. 4 , 26 Some studies report higher failure rates in patients over the age of 80 years, 27 whereas other studies have not found proof of association between age-related risk factors and fistula failure. 26 In our series, 42.58% of procedures were performed in patients over the age of 65 years, and no effect on immediate outcome was observed.

Measurements of intraoperative flow have prognostic value with relation to AVF patency. A variety of methods for taking these measurements have been described, including Doppler ultrasound, handheld ultrasound flow meters, 28 electromagnetic flow meters, 20 and magnetic resonance imaging. 29

It is well known that venous access flow is higher through proximal AVF when compared to RCAVF. 30 In our study, we chose to only evaluate RCAVF, to avoid data collection confounding bias.

Computer simulated flow studies illustrate that an adequately functioning AVF has a spiral flow pattern. 31 During physical examination, this flow pattern is related to a palpable thrill, which in turn is related to adequate flow through the venous access. 16 , 28 It can be easily evaluated during the procedure, with no need for any extra equipment for analysis. 16 In order to increase the reliability of measurement comparisons, in the present study all procedures were performed by a single surgeon.

Although thrill intensity immediately after AVF creation is assessed subjectively and some studies describe a lack of correlation with fistula maturation, 5 , 18 several studies rely on this parameter to evaluate access outcomes. 19 , 22 , 24 , 32 , 33

It is known that atherosclerosis and arterial calcification alter arterial elasticity. 34 In their studies, Young 35 and Kim 36 noted a higher rate of early failure in forearm AVF created in patients with intimal hyperplasia and calcification. Kheda stated that these findings led to reduced arterial elasticity, which is also associated with maturation failure. It is known that diabetes is related to medial calcific sclerosis, Monckeberg’s arteriosclerosis, which may also play a role in reducing vessel elasticity. 37 In the present study, macroscopic arterial calcification had a statistical correlation with inadequate flow (p = 0.004), but diabetes mellitus was not associated with early failure (p = 0.343).

Several studies discuss the minimum venous diameter for AVF creation. Some series describe physical examination as an accurate method of preoperative assessment, but the methods used are distinct for each study and a high degree of subjectivity in vein diameter measurement and venous segment assessment make them difficult to reproduce. 38 In our study, physical examination assessments had no statistically significant relationship with the outcome of the procedure.

The results of Doppler ultrasound studies of minimum vein diameter range from 1.8mm to 4.0mm. 7 , 13 , 14 , 22 , 39 Fila suggested dilating veins during the procedure, measuring the vein using probes gently inserted before anastomosis, finding that results were better with dilated veins of diameter greater than 3.5mm. 40 The catheter method used in our study is similar to intraoperative measures described by Fila. 40 Urethral catheters have the advantage of being widely available compared to vessel probes, and sizes are easily comparable with ultrasound mapping, since urethral catheters of 4Fr, 6Fr, 8Fr and 10Fr are equivalent to probes of 1.33mm, 2mm, 2.66mm and 3.33mm, respectively. Cannulation with soft PVC urethral catheters and dilatation by saline infusion are also less likely to cause inadvertent vein rupture when compared to forcing the diameter to expand exclusively through vessel cannulation with rigid structures during the procedure.

We observed better results with catheters of 6Fr or larger (or 2mm, converting French units to millimeters). This data is similar to direct venous measurement by probes, 40 and ultrasound mapping studies, 12 , 14 which report better results from AVF created with veins with a minimum preoperative diameter of 2mm.

Fila also reported venous cannulation of 10 to 15 cm proximal to the anastomosis site, yet this length was not evaluated in detail as a variable possibly associated with access outcome. 40 KDOQI suggests an adequate AVF should have at least 6 to 10 cm of vein available to allow rotation of puncture sites. 4 We found better outcomes for RCAVF in which it was possible to perform venous cannulation along at least a 10 cm segment of vein (p < 0.001).

This study has limitations. Although all the procedures and flow analysis were performed by a single surgeon, on a single type of AVF, measurement of flow by thrill palpation is subjective. Both thrill intensity and venous diameter can be underestimated due to vessel spasm secondary to manipulation. A longitudinal study is needed to compare the intraoperative findings to actual access functionality and to analyze the correlation between immediate thrill palpation and AVF outcome. Further studies are needed to evaluate whether these variables identified during surgery actually have an influence on maturation time and dialysis access performance.

CONCLUSION

The present study shows that absence of calcification, feasibility of venous cannulation with a urethral catheter of a diameter greater than 2 mm (6Fr), and venous cannulation of more than 10 cm are associated with better AVF outcomes. Careful intraoperative venous measurements may provide more information to help vascular surgeons to make the decision on whether it is better to explore more proximal access possibilities during surgery or to create an AVF at the site originally intended.