Preferred Strategy for Hemodialysis Access Creation in Elderly Patients

• Published in: European journal of vascular and endovascular surgery Vol. 49; no. 6; pp. 738 - 743
• Main Authors: Tordoir, J.H.M, Bode, A.S, van Loon, M.M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier B.V 01.06.2015
• Subjects: Age Factors; Aged; Arteriovenous fistula; Arteriovenous graft; Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical - adverse effects; Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical - mortality; Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation - adverse effects; Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation - mortality; Catheterization, Central Venous - adverse effects; Catheterization, Central Venous - mortality; Central vein catheter; Comorbidity; Elderly patients; Hemodialysis; Humans; Kidney Failure, Chronic - complications; Kidney Failure, Chronic - diagnosis; Kidney Failure, Chronic - mortality; Kidney Failure, Chronic - therapy; Male; Patient Selection; Renal Dialysis - adverse effects; Renal Dialysis - mortality; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Surgery; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Upper Extremity - blood supply; Vascular access; Vascular Calcification - complications; Vascular Calcification - diagnosis; Central vein catheter; Arteriovenous fistula; Vascular access; Arteriovenous graft; Hemodialysis; Elderly patients
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejvs.2015.02.006
• ISSN: 1078-5884

Background Adequate functioning vascular access is the key to successful hemodialysis. The use of an autologous arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is advised because of good long-term patency and a low incidence of complications. However, the number of patients with AVFs is declining because of the change in the demography of the dialysis population, with increasing numbers of very old patients with multiple comorbidities. Methods In this vignette an elderly patient is described with calcified distal arteries and a small cephalic vein who is referred at a late stage for access creation. The results and performance of different types of vascular access (AVF; arteriovenous graft; central vein catheter), in relation to late referral and patient demographics, are described. In addition, patient morbidity and mortality versus the type of access are discussed. Conclusions The patient described in this vignette appears to be unsuitable for the creation of a forearm AVF because of calcified distal arteries and a small cephalic vein. The risk of non-maturing autologous AVFs is high in elderly patients and this observation might justify the use of early stick grafts. High risk patients may benefit from permanent central vein catheters.