Outcomes of arteriovenous fistula for hemodialysis in pediatric age group

Introduction

The feasibility of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) creation in pediatric patients has long been documented, but few studies have evaluated the forms and long-term outcomes. The aim of this article is to highlight the types, techniques and outcomes of AVFs in pediatric age group.

Methods

This is multi-center, retrospective, single cohort study, including all the cases of pediatric (less than 18 year old) cases underwent AVF creation during four years (2015–2019). The following data were obtained from the patients' medical records and analyzed; socio-demographics, etiology of renal failure (RF), history of dialysis and transplantation, type and site of AVF, the outcomes and complications.

Results

The study included 108 patients, 89 patients (82.4%) were female. The mean age was 13 years. The most common cause of RF was the urological causes which were found in 34 cases (31.5%), followed by nephrotic syndrome (32 cases, 29.6%), glomerulonephritis (27 cases, 25%), and polycystic kidney disease (12 cases, 11.1%). The decision for choosing access site was performed only by clinical examination in 96 patients (88.9%) while duplex ultrasound was requested for 12 cases (11.1%). The operation was done under local anesthesia in 81 cases (75%) and general anesthesia in 27 cases (25%). The procedure was performed in the wrist in 58 cases (53.7%) and in cubital fossa in 50 cases (46.2%). The most common early complication was hematoma (12 cases, 11.1%), followed by ecchymosis (10 cases, 9.3%), infection (8, 7.4%), seroma (4, 3.7%) and thrombosis (3, 2.8%). The one-year primary patency rate was found in 95 patients (88%) and two-year patency rate in 86 patients (79.6%).

Conclusion

Native AVF in pediatric is the first choice dialysis access even in pediatric population. Radiocephalic in the non-dominant hand is the most preferred site.

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The feasibility of AVF creation in pediatric patients has long been documented.

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Few studies have evaluated the forms and long-term outcomes.

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Physical examination is an effective method for determining the proper site for access creation.

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The aim of this article is to highlight the types, techniques and outcome of AVFs in pediatric age group.

Stretching the boundaries: suitability of an arteriovenous fistula in elderly patients on hemodialysis-a northern India experience

PURPOSE

Considering various factors, such as multiple co-morbidities, unsuitable vessels for access creation, non-maturation, vascular calcifications, the outcome of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) in the elderly population, may not be similar to the younger people. Our study aims to analyze the outcomes of AVF in elderly patients (> 65 year).

METHODS

It was a prospective observational study. Patients of more than 65 years of age in whom AVF was created from January 2012 to December 2015 were included in the study. These patients were followed up for 4 years. The primary endpoint of our study was to assess primary and secondary patency rates.

RESULTS

A total of 450 AVFs were included in the study. The mean age was 68.5 years. The most common site of AVF was radiocephalic (RCAVF) in 70% (n = 315), brachiocephalic (BCAVF) in 24% (n = 108) and basilic vein transposition (BVT) in 6% (n = 27). At 48 months, the primary patency rate of RCAVF, BCAVF, and BVT was 55%, 61.6%, and 60.4%, respectively. The commonest cause of access failure was thrombosis followed by non-maturation.

CONCLUSION

AVF remains the preferred vascular access for hemodialysis even in the elderly population. Failure to mature and thrombosis continue to be a concern with AVF. Location of the AV access does not seem to impact the long-term patency.

Obtaining central access in challenging pediatric patients

PURPOSE

Central catheter placement is one of the most commonly performed procedures by pediatric surgeons. Here, we present a case series of patients where central access was obtained at our institution with the utilization of a novel ultrasound-guided technique. This series represents the first of its kind where the native, parent vessels were inaccessible, resulting in a challenging situation for providers.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review was performed in pediatric patients (0-17 years) at a tertiary care institution between July 2012 and November 2017 on all central line procedures where ultrasound was utilized to cannulate the brachiocephalic or superior vena cava in face of proximal occlusion. Our group has previous experience utilizing an image-guided in-plane approach to central line placement in the pediatric population. Demographics, operative characteristics, and postoperative complications were reviewed.

RESULTS

A total of 11 procedures were included in this case series where the BC (N = 9) or SVC (N = 2) were cannulated for access. Internal jugular vein cannulation was attempted on each patient unless preoperative imaging demonstrated occlusion. The median operative time was 43 ± 23 min. Most procedures were performed on the right sided (63%), with catheters ranging from 4.2F single lumen to 14F double lumen. Since being placed, three (27%) catheters have been removed, with one due to non-use, one due to sepsis, and the final one due to malposition.

CONCLUSION

With the continued need for long-term central access in the pediatric population, distal vein occlusion or inaccessibility can prove challenging when attempting to obtain central access. Here, demonstrated a safe alternative technique that provides an additional option in the pediatric surgeon's armamentarium for patients with difficult central access.

Effectiveness and complications of ultrasound-guided subclavian vein cannulation in children and neonates

BACKGROUND

The ultrasound (US)-guided supraclavicular approach to subclavian vein (Sup-SCV) catheterisation in children has recently been described and evaluated in a small cohort. The aim of this study was to assess this technique in a large paediatric cohort including neonates.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective observational study between November 2010 and December 2013 which included 615 children divided into two groups according to their weight: Group 1≤5kg (n=124), Group 2>5kg (n=491). All procedures were performed under general anaesthesia by an anaesthesiologist or a supervised resident. The success rates of catheter insertion, the number of punctures required, the procedure time, and the complication rates were analysed.

RESULTS

Sup-SCV catheterisation was successful in 98% of the cases and was higher in Group 2 than in Group 1 (99.4% versus 92.7%, P<0.001). The success rate after the first attempt was higher and the incidence of multiple attempts (≥3 punctures) was lower in Group 2 than in Group 1 (84.2% versus 64.5%, P<0.001 and 4.5% versus 19.4%, P<0.001). The success rate was similar between right and left cannulations (P=0.404), and according to physician experience (P=1.000). Procedure time was fast in both groups with a median time for all procedures of 40 seconds [30-90]. Among the procedures recorded, only five arterial punctures and no cases of pneumothorax were observed.

CONCLUSION

US-guided Sup-SCV catheterisation appears to be fast and safe in children and neonates, even if it remains a little more difficult to achieve in lower-weight patients.

Hemodynamics in the cephalic arch of a brachiocephalic fistula

The care and outcome of patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) on chronic hemodialysis is directly dependent on their hemodialysis access. A brachiocephalic fistula (BCF) is commonly placed in the elderly and in patients with a failed lower-arm, or radiocephalic, fistula. However, there are numerous complications such that the BCF has an average patency of only 3.6 years. A leading cause of BCF dysfunction and failure is stenosis in the arch of the cephalic vein near its junction with the axillary vein, which is called cephalic arch stenosis (CAS). Using a combined clinical and computational investigation, we seek to improve our understanding of the cause of CAS, and to develop a means of predicting CAS risk in patients with a planned BCF access. This paper details the methodology used to determine the hemodynamic consequences of the post-fistula environment and illustrates detailed results for a representative sample of patient-specific anatomies, including a single, bifurcated, and trifurcated arch. It is found that the high flows present due to fistula creation lead to secondary flows in the arch owing to its curvature with corresponding low wall shear stresses. The abnormally low wall shear stress locations correlate with the development of stenosis in the singular case that is tracked in time for a period of one year.

Carotid and brachiocephalic arteries stenosis with long term use of sorafenib

The risk associated with arterial thromboembolism (ATE) increases with the presence of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). We are reporting a case of transient ischemic attack (TIA) due to stenosis of the carotid and brachiocephalic arteries following long-term treatment with sorafenib for renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The patient is a non-smoker with no known comorbidities and had no history of cardiovascular disease. The patient underwent a right endarterectomy with angioplasty, aortic arch, and brachiocephalic artery angiogram with a stent placed in the brachiocephalic artery.