Risk Factors that Influence the Early Access Patency of an Arteriovenous Fistula in Hemodialysis Patients

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: It is very important to obtain vascular access that resists repeated punctures and maintains an adequate blood flow for performing hemodialysis in patients with end stage renal disease. This study was designed to identify the risk factors that may influence the early patency rate of arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs). METHOD: We analyzed 304 cases of AVFs in 299 patients who underwent hemodialysis access surgery in our hospital from January 2000 to March 2007. The rate of early access failure and the risk factors of early access patency were evaluated retrospectively. RESULT: The rate of early access failure of an AVF was 14.5%. The early access failure group showed a higher incidence in women and in the patients with a previous history of ipsilateral central venous catheterization. Further examination by multivariate analysis demonstrated that a history of ipsilateral central venous catheterization was an independent risk factor for early access failure of AVFs. CONCLUSION: A history of ipsilateral central venous catheterization was an independent risk factor for early access failure of AVFs in this study.