MO765: Should We have to Create A Proximal Fistula in First Instance for Patients ≥75 Years Old?
Authors: Sampol Jerome , Bertrand Pierre , Pedinielli Nathalie , Brunner Flora , Bataille Stanislas , Sichez-Com Helene , Serveaux Marianne , Ollier Jacques , Giaime Philippe 
Published: May 2022

BACKGROUND

In France, the Network Epidemiology and Information in Nephrology evaluated the incidence of cases of chronic end-stage renal disease (ESRD), treated by dialysis, of patients aged ≥75 years at 39.8% (2015).

Timely placement and development of functional fistulas for haemodialysis remain difficult logistical problems along with their high failure rate. Cardiovascular (CV) morbidity-mortality increases when patients initiate catheter-based treatment. The recommendations call for a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) between 15 and 30 mL/min/1.73m² (EBPG 2007 and Canadian 2006) to implement a fistula. The older the patients, the more the quality of the venous network deteriorates. In this population, clinicians face a simple problem: creating a too early fistula and preparing patients for an adequate supply.

The surgery of vascular approaches tries to avoid two pitfalls: ‘too much to preserve’ the vascular capital, ‘too much to privilege’ the permeability of the first by creating proximal approaches (Barrou B.). The guidelines [Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (K/DOQI) 2006] recommend the most distal vascular approach possible.

Since 2016, CKD patients aged ≥75 years, have been implanted with arteriovenous fistula (native or prosthetic), localized in the first line of the humero-cephalic vein, huméro-basilique, or humero-axillary. Our primary objective is to assess primary permeability in a population of patients aged ≥75 years with stage IV/V chronic kidney disease (CKD) after the first-line proximal fistula.

METHOD

All patients aged ≥75 years for which a first-line proximal VA was created between 1 January 2016 and 31 December 2019 have been retrospectively reviewed in an observational study. They were followed for 12 months. A quarterly compilation of data has been produced.

RESULTS

A total of 31 patients (74% of men) benefit from the creation of a native fistula (90.3%) or prosthetic. During follow-up, 8 patients were excluded. 29% of patients had started catheter haemodialysis treatment prior to the creation of their first fistula.

A total of 7 changed fistula from initial surgery during the study, of which 2 after the first use. At the creation of the vascular access, the median age of patients is 81 years, of which 35.5% have vascular nephropathy and 19.4% have diabetic nephropathy.

The location of the anastomosis is as follows: 84% FAV brachiocephalic, 10% FAV brachiobasilic and 6% FAV axillary. At 12 months, 16 patients were still under observation.

A total of 5 patients had thrombosis of their VA (80% of native fistulas). The average interval between the creation of the first, and the thrombosis is 2.18 months. Patients dialyzed with VA were 68%. On a scale from 0 (no difficulty) to 10 (puncture not performed), the average difficulty score of the first puncture is 2.2.

The average time in the day between the first puncture and first ‘effective’ dialysis on the first 13.9 days and the average weekly duration of dialysis at the first effective puncture is 11.29 hours. There are 28 hospitalizations, 21% of which are related to VA, 37 ultrasound, 9 angiography and 4 surgical repairs were performed on VA. Only one ischaemia of the hand is observed, treated medically.

Estimates of the risk of thrombosis associated with diabetes are confirmed [P = 0.02; 95% confidence interval (95%CI); hazard ratio (HR): 0.054–0.332]. At 12 months, 94% of the surroundings are permeable without any thrombosis.

CONCLUSION

This study confirms the interest in a proximal vascular approach in people aged ≥75. We have voluntarily included patients from the creation of their VA and for the majority before the time of starting haemodialysis. The average age is high in a high-risk epidemiological context (HTA, diabetes) and the number of early deaths (16%).

The quality of the surroundings is confirmed by the percentage of native fistula at nearly 90% in accordance with the guidelines. The surgical team is motivated and sensitized in this collaborative project. A total of 52% of patients remained in observation at M12 and 94% had a permeable first with satisfactory dialysis quality.

These results are encouraging and require a broader multicentre prospective and comparative study like other problems in managing vascular access for haemodialysis.