Karl A. Illig

Introduction: Transposed brachiobasilic AV fistulas (BVT) have increasingly been performed in two stages. Published reports give conflicting results, perhaps in part as many reports of staged procedures eliminate those patients who “fail” the first stage (i.e. are lost to follow-up in addition to anatomic failure). Methods: A prospectively maintained database was reviewed to identify all patients at two institutions who underwent the first stage of planned two-stage BVT by the senior author. Success in this context was defined as patients who eventually underwent second stage fistula creation, leaving the operating room after the second stage with a patent, transposed fistula. Results: From October 2012 to June 2020, 218 patients underwent first-stage procedures. At the first visit, 185 (85%) of fistulas were patent, 23 (11%) were occluded, 8 (4%) of patients were lost to follow-up, and 2 (1%) died. In the interval before the second operation, another eight (4%) patients were lost to follow-up, two were cancelled for medical reasons, and two declined surgery, leaving a total of 173 patients who made it to the second stage (80%). At operation, four patients were found to have unusable veins, leaving a total of 169 patients who completed both stages. If all patients who underwent first stage are included, 77% of patients entering this pathway left the OR after their second stage with patent access. If those lost to follow-up are excluded, this number increases to 84%, while if all those lost to follow-up are assumed to mature, success increases to 85%. Conclusions: Depending on results in patients lost to follow-up, between 77% and 85% of patients undergoing first stage brachiobasilic fistulae undergo successful second stage transposition. These numbers are equivalent or slightly lower than published maturation rates for single-stage BVT, so there is little margin for failure at the second stage.

Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow (HeRO) grafts are used when venous outflow is inadequate to support conventional access. These have been perceived as complex to implant and being associated with high risk. We have evolved a defined protocol for insertion that minimizes morbidity and maximizes efficiency. Our protocol includes staged intravenous access versus HeRO graft placement, reverse Trendelenburg positioning, subcutaneous access of the deep portion of the existing catheter, use of a stiff wire placed within the inferior vena cava, dilation of the tract to 8 mm, device lubrication, all insertion procedures directly visualized, and use of immediate access conduits with SuperHeRO connector. From 7/1/18 to 8/13/19, 55 HeRO grafts were placed at our institution following this protocol, average age 58 ± 15 (26–86) years (mean ± SD, range). 53 (96%) had had prior ipsilateral central access (13 by means of “inside out” 2 weeks prior) the other two had on-table access. Mean procedure time was 70 ± 26 (38–148) min. Excluding seven “complex” cases, procedure time for our first 20 cases using this protocol was 72 ± 29 min, while that of the last 28 was 62 ± 18 min (p < 0.05). One patient suffered acute CHF after unclamping; despite reclamping and ligation he died on POD 3 (mortality rate 2%). 71% were done as outpatients, and 47 of 53 evaluable patients (89%) had their grafts used within 36 h for dialysis. Only one patient (2%) has had an infection within 30 days (cellulitis). At a mean followup of 95 ± 105 (maximum 383) days, three additional patients have had graft infections requiring excision, for a total infection rate of 5/53 (9%). Our results suggest that HeRO graft placement can be performed with minimal morbidity and mortality on an outpatient basis. Short-term infection rates are low and 89% of patients have their grafts immediately accessed and are discharged without a catheter.

Even in the best of circumstances, a significant number of patients will require adjunctive endovascular and/or surgical revision prior to achieving functional patency after endovascular or percutaneous AVF creation, at least within the United States. This rate appears to be higher after percutaneous AVF than after endovascular AVF, although because published reports of the former are mostly derived from American experience and those of the latter derived from experience outside the United States, it is unclear whether these differences are due to the technique itself or cultural and/or anatomic differences in dialysis access practices and patient populations. If arterial inflow is poor, this should be corrected first. When flow is adequate (perhaps 900 cc/min) but no single vein is cannulatable, a dominant suitable vein can be superficialized or transposed. If no suitable vein is dominant (most accurately assessed by using an intraoperative flowmeter), the best vein can be used, with or without occlusion of the other veins or reimplantation into the brachial artery. Finally, if the original anastomosis remains the sole supply to the cannulated vein, the original fistula has achieved assisted primary maturation (and assisted primary patency continues), while if a new arteriovenous anastomosis has been constructed, the original fistula has failed. We point out that for this reason as well as to best utilize the upper arm for later access, endovascular and percutaneous AVFs should be constructed and maintained within an atmosphere where both surgeons and non-surgeons work together on the overall access plan.

Currently, there is no vascular access that possesses all ideal qualities for hemodialysis access, but attributes particularly lacking include: ease of identification (cannulation zone), ease of access, resistance to stenosis, durable to repetitive cannulation, resistance to infection, resistance to acute needle-related injuries, and instant hemostasis. The overall value of these attributes could be appreciated in the reduction of complications (patient burden and suffering, which can also result in increased healthcare costs), and improved safety and durability. In this case report, we present a novel hemodialysis access graft that has the potential to provide the following benefits: it is designed to be self-sealing and immediately usable post implant, easy to identify, easy to access, has more durable cannulation zones, and protects from needle-related injuries. This case report describes the first-in-man use of this novel graft technology to replace a giant, thrombotic, and difficult-to-access arteriovenous fistula to provide the patient with a potentially safer and more durable access that does not require placement of a bridging dialysis catheter. This single-patient experience suggests that implantation and function of this novel graft as a hemodialysis access is feasible in a human subject with end-stage renal disease, and it suggests that the novel properties (i.e. immediate use, easy identification, easy use, cannulation zone durability, and protection from needle-related injuries) of this graft seem to function as intended.

Axillosubclavian vein thrombosis is the most common manifestation of venous thoracic outlet syndrome. Contemporary series report rates of near-complete thrombus clearance when acute thrombosis of the axillosubclavian segment is treated, with low rates of hemorrhagic complications. Once all thrombus has been removed, the vein should be assessed for its baseline pre-thrombosis status. In patients with subacute and chronic axillosubclavian thrombosis, months after an acute episode, there are data to suggest that, even if thrombolysis is not indicated or not attempted, there may be still be a benefit to first rib resection. Urschel and Patel presented the largest published series of patients with axillosubclavian vein thrombosis. Treatment of subclavian venous thrombosis due to thoracic outlet syndrome has significantly evolved over the past half century. The available data firmly support the concept that the best possible results are obtained by early thrombolysis followed by expeditious thoracic outlet decompression and subsequent anticoagulation.