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International Angiology 2019 June;38(3):239-49

DOI: 10.23736/S0392-9590.19.04132-4

Copyright © 2019 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

The impact of pre-existing radial artery pathology by histological assessment on the maturation, function and patency of the radiocephalic fistula for hemodialysis

Ramon ROCA-TEY ¹ ✉, Ramon BORDES ², Román MARTÍNEZ-CERCÓS ³, Amelia RIVAS ⁴, Amparo RODA ¹, Omar IBRIK ¹, Rosa SAMON ¹, Juan C. GONZÁLEZ-OLIVA ¹, Jordi VILADOMS ¹, Jordi CALLS ¹

¹ Department of Nephrology, Hospital de Mollet, Fundació Sanitària Mollet, Mollet del Vallès, Spain; ² Department of Pathology, Hospital de Mollet, Fundació Sanitària Mollet, Mollet del Vallès, Spain; ³ Department of Vascular Surgery, Hospital de Mollet, Fundació Sanitària Mollet, Mollet del Vallès, Spain; ⁴ CETIR Centre Mèdic, Barcelona, Spain

BACKGROUND: We prospectively analyzed the effect of preexisting structural changes of the radial artery (RA) wall by histological examination on the wrist radiocephalic fistula (RCF) outcomes.
METHODS: During RCF creation, one segment of the RA wall was collected and its histomorphometric analysis was performed. The RCF function was evaluated by measuring blood flow rate.
RESULTS: At the end of follow-up, 75.7% of the thirty-seven patients enrolled were performing hemodialysis by using their successful RCF and 24.3% of them showed early RCF failure. Compared to patients with a healthy RA, the RCF of those with medial RA microcalcification reached up a lower flow and a shorter primary patency (P=0.005 and P=0.040, respectively). The RA microcalcification was predictive of the RCF function (coefficient -614.9, 95% CI: -994.7 to -235.1, P=0.003). Compared to patients with successful RCF, those with failed RCF had a greater frequency of weak RCF thrill after releasing the clamps (P=0.045). Dependence on hemodialysis during RCF placement was predictive of its early failure (OR: 23.2, 95% CI: 1.76 to 306.9, P=0.017). Both having at least one cardiovascular comorbidity (HR 4.30, 95% CI: 1.29 to 14.39, P=0.018) and a thicker media layer of the RA (HR 1.60, 95% CI: 1.87 to 2.15, P=0.002) were predictive of primary RCF patency.
CONCLUSIONS: The function and survival of the successful RCF were related to preoperative RA abnormalities such as microcalcification and media layer thickness. Both dependence on hemodialysis during RCF placement and an attenuated RCF thrill were associated with early RCF failure.

KEY WORDS: Radial artery; Calcinosis; Fistula