Patient Characteristics Predict Patency of Early-Cannulation Arteriovenous Grafts

doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-120913/v1

There is a new emphasis on tailoring appropriate vascular access for hemodialysis to patients and their life-plans, but there is little known about the optimal use of newer devices such as early-cannulation arteriovenous grafts (ecAVG), with studies utilising them in a wide variety of situations. The aim of this study was to determine if the outcome of ecAVG can be predicted by patient characteristics known pre-operatively. This retrospective analysis of 278 consecutive ecAVG with minimum one-year follow-up correlated functional patency with demographic data, renal history, renal replacement and vascular access history. On univariate analysis, aetiology of renal disease, indication for an ecAVG, the number of previous tunnelled central venous catheters (TCVC) prior to insertion of an ecAVG, peripheral vascular disease, and BMI were significant associates with functional patency. On multivariate analysis the number of previous TCVC, the presence of peripheral vascular disease and indication were independently associated with outcome after allowing for age, sex and BMI. When selecting for vascular access, understanding the clinical circumstances such as indication and previous vascular access can identify patients with differing outcomes. Importantly strategies that result in TCVC exposure have an independent and cumulative association with decreasing long-term patency for subsequent ecAVG. As such, TCVC exposure is best avoided or minimised particularly when ecAVG can be considered.

Urology & Nephrology

early-cannulation arteriovenous grafts (ecAVG)

tunnelled central venous catheters (TCVC)

Technical innovations in medical care have historically had a looser governance structure than drugs. The introduction of novel innovations into clinical practice is rarely based on large scale definitive trials. Instead the evidence gradually evolves from initial case-reports to case-series and more formal assessments that describe the practical aspects of their use. Subsequently larger case-series or more formal randomised trials focus on the optimal selection of cohorts, the wider description of outcomes, and the comparison to established products that may be industry sponsored.

Whilst the early aspects of this journey offer an opportunity to demonstrate the utility of a new and innovative product, they are equally open to significant limitations including: low statistical power that may result in limited success or failure having disproportionate effects; indication bias where the product is only used where the outcomes are likely to be better; selection bias in what data is selected for analysis; and publication bias which favours novelty and is less accepting of the outcomes from routine use or poor outcomes^1,2. Thus the accommodation of innovation requires a critical volume of evidence prior to recognition of the potential role of novel devices which cannot be produced from meta-analysis of limited case-reports.

Early-cannulation arteriovenous grafts (ecAVG) are one such technical innovation that was produced as an evolution of traditional arteriovenous grafts (tAVG), but which now challenges established treatment paradigms. The choice of vascular access – arteriovenous fistula (AVF) or arteriovenous graft (tAVG), has been subject to many debates and trials for many years, with guidelines recommended limiting tAVG to those with limited or exhausted native AVF options^3,4. A key weakness of tAVG is the lag time taken between implantation and subsequent use, during which alternative means of vascular access is required. This most commonly involves the use of the least preferred option – a tunnelled central venous catheter (TCVC) that incurs comparatively high morbidity and costs⁵. In contrast, ecAVG allow immediate use thus avoiding the requirement for a TCVC. Thus, ecAVG are not merely a refinement of established tAVG, but offer a new treatment paradigm for hemodialysis patients.

The published outcomes of ecAVG are highly variable and are typical of early reports of innovative products - small single-centre reports^6–15, one industry supported multi-centre report¹⁶ and two randomised trials^10,12. Despite the limited numbers of patients, there have been four reviews ^17–20. The published patencies vary widely, making it difficult to interpret their comparability to tAVG and their applicability.

These differences in outcome may partly relate to wide variation in both the population selected and the indication for which an ecAVG was used. However, no such association has ever been shown, perhaps as few centres have sufficient cases with detailed long-term follow-up with uniformity in the processes of care to demonstrate this. The recent KDOQI guidelines recommend a conceptual change with a wider recognition of the variation in the patient pathway, and an aim to match the choice of vascular access to anticipated patient need²¹. Data that could help select patients with better or poorer patencies would therefore be important when evaluating the use of ecAVG in this new paradigm as

Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the factors that may predict long-term outcomes after ecAVG, especially with regard to those that are available to patients and clinicians at the time of deciding the vascular access strategy involving ecAVG.

The outcomes of a consecutive cohort of all ecAVG (Gore® Acuseal™) placed in a single-centre (2/2012–12/2019) with a minimum one-year follow-up were retrospectively analysed from a prospectively recorded electronic patient record (ePR). Data included demographics, complications and outcomes. Functional patency was used as the most meaningful outcome measure for patients and was defined as the interval between first cannulation and abandonment or the time of measurement of patency including occurrence of a censored event (death, elective change of modality, loss of follow-up)²². Other than 2 patients that were lost to follow-up after more than one year, all data was complete for the remaining patients. A multidisciplinary team meeting ran weekly with attendance from representatives of the vascular access specialist nursing team, interventional radiology, ultrasonography, nephrology and surgery, at which all imaging and planning was discussed. The technical aspects of AVG placement were consistent throughout the period with all data pertaining to one surgical team (DBK, KS, AJ).

Factors Related to Functional Patency:

Patient Factors: Details of patient co-morbidity were obtained from the documentation of past medical history and included co-existent disease (diabetes mellitus, previous coronary artery disease, stroke, hypertension, cardiac failure, peripheral vascular disease, malignancy), underlying aetiology of renal failure (diabetic nephropathy, glomerular nephritis, interstitial nephritis, unknown, multisystem diseases, other miscellaneous causes), smoking (active or not), body mass index (BMI, as a continuous and categorical variable), and medication (anti-coagulation, antiplatelets). The implantation site and configuration was recorded.

Renal Replacement Therapy (RRT): Data on previous RRT were recorded: time on RRT, previous RRT modality, previous vascular access (at time of operation for ecAVG, prior TCVC, prior AVF).

Indication for an ecAVG: The indications previously reported in case-series included poor native options for elective creation of an AVF, central vein stenosis requiring lower limb ecAVG or HeRO (hemodialysis reliable outflow graft, ®Merritt Medical), patient choice, TCVC complications including infection and dysfunction, salvage of failed AVF for thrombosis or aneurysm, and urgent – where dialysis was required before AVF creation had been achieved (Table 1). The primary indication for ecAVG was taken as the fundamental reason to receive an ecAVG rather than alternative vascular access. For example, an acutely occluded aneurysmal AVF that was excised and a replaced with an AVG in the same arm was categorised as AVF failure. However, if the AVG had been placed in the contra-lateral arm due that had no option for an AVF, then the indication was poor native options. Central vein stenosis as an indication was based on the need for either HeRO or lower limb ecAVG with the central venous stenosis was present in the SVC or being bilateral. Poor native options was based on ultrasound measurements of brachial artery or cephalic vein less than 3 mm. An ecAVG was categorised as urgent if there was an acute need for dialysis with no vascular access ready. Thus a late-presenter would have the option of ecAVG or TCVC and may elect for an ecAVG and would be classified as ‘urgent’. If there was time before HD was required and an AVF was a viable option but the patient chose an ecAVG, then the indication would be patient choice. Importantly, the allocation to indication was made prior to the analysis of outcomes and obtained from the pre-operative documentation.

Table 1

Case-Mix of Case-Reports of Early-Cannulation Arteriovenous Grafts
Article	Demographic Factors					Vascular Access History
	Mean Age	DM	BMI	Sex %male	Renal Disease	% Incident	Years HD	TCVC at op	AV at op	% Leg /HeRO
Aitken⁷ N = 37	42	97%	31	54	✕	11%	3.2	46%	8%	70%
Glickman¹⁶ N = 138	63	60%	30	49	✕	17%	2	89%	9%	0%
Maytham¹¹ N = 55	64	38%		51	✕	20%			49%	0%
Tozzi⁸ N = 30	60	40%		60	✕		8.4mo	57%		10%
Aitken¹² N = 60	54	37%	17% obese	53	✓	27%	3.4	22%	30%	3%
Chemla²⁷ N = 16	56	47%		47	✕	0				0%
Chiang²⁸ N = 45	52	60%		51	✕	62				0%
Schild⁹ N = 33	< 70	60%		48%	✕	0				0%
Lioupis¹⁴ N = 48	59	40%		65	✓	35				0%
Berard¹⁵ N = 46	63	39%	24	61%	✓	17%	1.3	74%	24%	22%
Scarrit¹³ N = 78	59	40%		65%	✕	35%				0%
Sutaria⁶ N = 141	61	46%		41	✕	26		51%	37%	2% 8%
Key: DM – diabetes mellitus; BMI – body mass index; Years HD – years on haemodialysis prior to ecAVG; TCVC at op – presence of a TCVC at time of ecAVG operation; AV at op – arteriovenous fistula at time of ecAVG operation; HeRO – haemodialysis reliable outflow device


Article	Indication For AVG					Prev TCVC	Prev AVF	Factors in model
	Urgent	AVF/G dys	TCVC dys	PNO	CVS
Aitken⁷ N = 37	11%	8%	32%	9%	68%	65%	Mean 2	5/6
Glickman¹⁶ N = 138	9%	7%	27%	20%	38%	53%	85%	5/6
Maytham¹¹ N = 55	0	25% / 31%	0%	51%	0		25%	3/6
Tozzi⁸ N = 30					0			2/6
Aitken¹² N = 60	12%	38%	21%		0	Mean 2	Mean 2	6/6
Chemla²⁷ N = 16						100%	100%	3/6
Chiang²⁸ N = 45		13%AVF 24%AVG					13%	2/6
Schild⁹ N = 33							100%	3/6
Lioupis¹⁴ N = 48							100%	3/6
Berard¹⁵ N = 46		24%		74%		74%	43%	6/6
Scarrit¹³ N = 78		19%					Median 1	3/6
Sutaria⁶ N = 141	20%	33%	4%		8%			3/6
Key: Shading = predictors in multi-variate model
DM – diabetes mellitus; BMI – body mass index; Primary diagnosis – underlying cause of renal disease; HD – hemodialysis; TCVC – tunnelled central venous catheter; Op – operation to implant ecAVG; AV – arteriovenous fistula or graft; LL – lower limb; HeRO – hemodialysis reliable outflow device; AVF/G Dys = dysfunction of an existing AVF or AVG; TCVC Dys = dysfunction of a previously functioning TCVC; PNO = poor native options; CVS = central vein stenosis ; Factors in model = number of factors documented in methods in the predictive model

Analysis:

Initially the data was analysed to detect normality of distribution. Data that were not normally distributed included age and sex with greatly differing event rates. Age was included as a continuous variable in the multivariate analysis. As variables to be analysed were both quantitative and categorical, and with likely interaction, a Cox proportional Hazards analysis was performed. Predictors of poor outcome were sought using univariate analysis. There was no evidence of informative censoring as very few patients were lost to follow-up. The Wilcoxon test was used to test for significance rather than the log-rank due to the number of censored events.

To create the multivariate model, up to 10 predictors found significant on univariate analysis could be reliably fitted to the data, accepting the limitations to this particularly for time dependent outcomes^23,24. A Cox proportional hazards model was performed based on continuous variable (age, number of TCVC) and categorical variables (sex, age in cohorts, smoking, presence/absence of co-morbid conditions, aetiology of ESRF, modality of vascular access at time of procedure, number of catheters, aetiology of ESRF, and indication).

The analysis was complicated due to the high level of censored events as it is assumed in the model that censored patients will have similar outcomes to non-censored which may or may not be true. The validity of the proportional-hazards assumption was made by making an interaction of the variable with time, with the significance of the time-dependent variable (T-cov) calculated when included in a Cox Model²⁵. Schoenfeld residual analysis could not be performed to check the assumptions of proportionality due to the high intercurrent censored event rates which would be excluded using this method. There was a significant non-proportionality for sex (p < 0.04), with all other variables showing proportionality. The survival curves by sex demonstrated that up to 300 days, females had slightly poorer functional patency, whereas after this time period, males had poorer patency. Thus in the multi-variate analysis, a time-dependent model was used with this included.

All p-values were derived from two-tailed tests with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Data were analysed using SPSS software (IBM® SPSS® Statistics, Version 27).

The study was registered with the appropriate regional committee – The Renal Services Clinical Effectiveness Group. In the UK (NHS-Health Research Authority), formal research ethics approval was not required due to the retrospective, observational study of established practice within accepted guidelines with no additional tests performed for the purposes of research for which patient permission is included in the consent forms, with no patient identification. All methods were carried out in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations.

Outcomes:

Of 278 AVG with follow-up greater than one year, there were 106 events (loss of AVG) with 137 censored events (death, elective change to other modality including transplantation). The mean follow-up was 481 days (s.d. 431 days), with a total exposure of 132,756 days.

Cohort Demographics:

There were significant differences in the cohort demographics by age and sex (Table 2). Females comprised one-half of patients aged under 50 compared to only one quarter aged over 70, with the underlying primary renal disease more likely to be diabetic nephropathy compared to males (34% vs 22%). Age had a significant impact on censored event rates - of the under 50’s, 25% were transplanted in follow-up, and 11% died, compared to the over 70’s in whom there were no transplants and 30% died. The type of vascular access at the time of operation also differed significantly by age: for patients < 50, they were more likely to have had no vascular access but were more likely to have had failing of an established modality of renal replacement history (RRT), compared to patients aged > 70 in whom one third had a previous AVF. There were no significant differences by age or sex for RRT (RRT at time of procedure, time on HD), vascular access history (the number of TCVC before the AVG, indication for an AVG) or for comorbidity (including BMI, cardiovascular disease or diabetes as a co-morbidity). Overall, 36% had a BMI of over 30.

Table 2.
The Distribution of Case-Mix and Outcomes by Age Group and Sex

Age Group

<50 51-70 71+ Total

Sex

Female 61 (53%) 51 (43%) 10 (23%) 122 (44%)

Male 54 (47%) 69 (57%) 33 (77%) 156 (56%)

X²=11. 44, p=0.00

Outcome

Death 13 (11%) 13 (11%) 13 (30%) 39 (14%)

Transplant 29 (25%) 24 (20%) 0 53 (19%)

X²=27.08, p=0.04

Modality of RRT at time of AVG

None 31 (27%) 23 (17%) 3 (11%) 57 (20%)

CVC 49 (42%) 70 (52%) 13 (48%) 132 (48%)

AVF 12(10%) 26 (19%) 9 (33%) 47 (17%)

PD/Tx/AVG 24 (21%) 16 (12%) 2 ( 7%) 42 (15%)

X²=17.463, p=0.008

Total 116 135 27 278

Sex

Female Male Total

Primary Renal Disease

Diabetes 42 34% 35 22% 77 28%

Glomerular Nephritis 27 22% 48 31% 75 27%

IN 5 4% 7 4% 12 4%

Multisystem 3 2% 8 5% 11 4%

Other 40 33% 38 24% 78 28%

Unknown 5 4% 20 13% 25 9%

X²=14.228, p=0.014

Total 122 44% 156 56% 278

X² =27.08, p=0.04

Demographic Impact on Functional Patency:

On univariate analysis, the following factors were not significantly associated with functional patency: co-morbidity (coronary artery disease, cardiac failure, stroke, peripheral vascular disease, hypertension, malignancy, BMI and smoking), medication (anti-coagulants or anti-platelets); procedural factors (urgency of procedure, graft layout - upper vs. lower limb). Although there was a consistent trend for age, sex and diabetes as adverse factors, and for hypertension to be a beneficial factor, none achieved significance on univariate analysis (Table 3). On analysis for a time-effect using the T-cov test, sex was found to be significant, with females having poorer functional patency in the first year, and better functional patency after one-year than males (Table 3, Fig. 1).

Table 3

Univariate Analysis of Risk of ecAVG Survival (Loss of Functional Patency): Non-significant Factors
Factor		n	RHR	95% c.i.	T-Cov	X²	pValue
Stoke/TIA	No	252
Stoke/TIA	Yes	22	0.739	0.385–1.421	0.077	0.829	0.364
Ischaemic heart disease	No	196
Ischaemic heart disease	Yes	78	0.976	0.641–1.478	0.279	0.013	0.908
Smoking	No	207
	Yes	67	0.909	0.583–1.417	0.280	0.177	0.674
Site	Arm	193
	Leg	83	0.947	0.614–1.460	0.798	0.061	0.806
Hypertension	No	120	1.00
	Yes	154	0.841	0.572–1.234	0.253	0.841	0.371
Age - continuous variable		Mean 54.3	B=-0.997	(0.984–1.010)	0.377	0.199	0.655
Sex	Female	124	1.00
	Male	151	1.186	0.803–1.752	0.04	0.739	0.391
Diabetes	No	175	1.00
	Yes	99	1.287	0.873–1.899	0.759	1.633	0.203
Medication	Antiplatelet	212	1.00
	Warfarin	84	0.877	0.583–1.350	0.599	0.313	0.576
HD at time op	PreDialysis	50	1.00			0.068	0.795
	HD/ Tx / pd	224	0.936	0.567–1.543	0.428
Time on RRT – continuous		Median 1971		1.00 (1.00–1.00)	0.801	1.066	0.302
Time on HD – continuous		Median 1023		1.00 (1.00–1.00)	0.517	0.649	0.421

Functional patency was found to be significantly or of near significance related to five factors (Table 4): the number of prior TCVC (categorical and as continuous variables), the indication for an ecAVG; BMI; primary renal disease; and presence of peripheral artery disease. In particular, the use of a TCVC prior to getting an ecAVG was a significant predictor of poorer functional patency both as a categorical factor and a continuous factor with a 27% increased risk of loss of functional patency for each additional TCVC. Primary renal disease was associated with functional patency, with diabetes having significantly poorer and interstitial nephritis having significantly better functional patency. The indication for an ecAVG varied with ‘AVF replacement’ having significantly better and ‘poor native options’ having significantly poorer outcomes. BMI was directly correlated with functional patency, and the absence of peripheral arterial disease was associated with better patency.

Table 4

Univariate Analysis of Risk of ecAVG Survival (Loss of Functional Patency): Significant/ Near significance Factors
Factor		n	RR	95% c.i.	T-cov	X²	p Value
No. of TCVC prior to ecAVG
	0	112	1.00	baseline
	1–2	100	1.153	0.734–1.810			0.536
	3+	62	1.648	1.026–2.647			0.039
					0.682	4.455	0.108
No. TCVC - cnts	Mean 1.99		1.052	1.008–1.098	0.670	5.510	0.020
Indication for ecAVG*
	AVF Dys	48	1.00	baseline
	CVS	59	1.648	0.903–3.007			0.103
	Urgent	49	1.186	0.593–2.373			0.629
	TCVC Dys	15	1.136	0.449–2.874			0.788
	Failing RRT	15	0.797	0.296–2.146			0.654
	Choice	7	0.677	0.157–2.913			0.600
	Poor Options	50	2.302	1.259–4.207			0.007
	LL (UL NNO)	33	1.234	0.571–2.668			0.593
					0.091	12.47	0.086
BMI – cont.	Mean = 29.1, B = 0.021/unit		1.021	(0.996–1.048)	0.355	2.643	0.021
Aetiology of renal failure	GN	73	1.00
	Diabetes	78	1.811	1.047–3.113			0.034
	IN	11	0.500	0.067–3.723			0.499
	Multi-system	12	2.027	0.763–5.382			0.156
	Other	78	1.819	1.057–3.131			0.031
	Unknown	24	1.505	0.721–3.139			0.276
					0.937	8.477	0.173
Peripheral arterial disease
Peripheral arterial disease	No	247
	Yes	26	1.696	0.944–3.048	0.875	3.193	0.074
Key: AVF/G Dys = dysfunction of an existing AVF or AVG; TCVC Dys = dysfunction of a previously functioning TCVC; PNO = poor native options; CVS = central vein stenosis with HeRO or lower limb AVG; LL (UL NNO) = lower limb AVG as upper limb had no native options
GN = glomerular nephritis; Diabetes = diabetes mellitus; IN = interstitial nephritis

Multivariate Model:

A multivariate model was performed using the factors of near-significance and found to be highly significant (X² = 24.078, p = 0.034, including age and BMI as continuous factors and sex as a time-dependent co-variable, Fig. 2, Table 5). Three factors were found to have independent significance (the number of prior TCVC, the indication for an ecAVG, and the presence of peripheral arterial disease) with the other factors not achieving significance (BMI, primary renal diagnosis).

Table 5

Multi-Variable Analysis of Risk of Loss of Functional Patency
Factor		n	RHR	95% c.i.	p Value
No. of TCVC (prior to ecAVG)	0	112	1.00	baseline
	1–2	100	1.308	0.779–2.195	0.310
	3+	62	2.014	1.019–3.983	0.044
Indication for ecAVG*	AVF Dys	48	1.00	baseline
	CVS	59	1.573	0.779–3.176	0.207
	Urgent	49	1.758	0.795–3.887	0.164
	TCVC Dys	15	0.866	0.304–2.468	0.788
	Failing RRT	15	0.975	0.307–3.099	0.965
	Choice	7	0.908	0.198–4.159	0.901
	Poor Options	50	2.823	1.429–5.557	0.003
	LL (UL NNO)	33	1.536	0.660–3.573	0.319
Peripheral Arterial Disease	Absent	230	1.00	baseline
Peripheral Arterial Disease	Present	26	1.885	1.007–3.526	0.047
Model Significance: X² = 24.078, p = 0.034
Analysis performed after allowing for sex as a time-dependent variable, BMI as a continuous variable and age.
Key: AVF/G Dys = dysfunction of an existing AVF or AVG; TCVC Dys = dysfunction of a previously functioning TCVC; PNO = poor native options; CVS = central vein stenosis with HeRO or lower limb AVG; LL (UL NNO) = lower limb AVG as upper limb had no native options
GN = glomerular nephritis; Diabetes = diabetes mellitus; IN = interstitial nephritis
Median Survival: (95% ci)
Female: 1072 days (594–1550)
Male: 749 days (467–1031)

The recent KDOQi guidelines have emphasised the matching of choice of vascular access to individual end-stage kidney disease life-plan – an ‘individualized …map for dialysis modalities and vascular access²¹. Central to this is an understanding of how the outcome of vascular access is related to patient factors and previous vascular access. This is the first paper to demonstrate that amongst the complex range of patient factors that may influence clinical decisions in use of ecAVG, there are three independently associated with outcome: the number of prior TCVC, the indication for which an AVG, and the presence of peripheral vascular disease. Given that these data are available to clinicians and patients when making the selection of vascular access, it is possible to match potential of various vascular access modalities against the potential need.

This analysis was stimulated by the highly variable case-mix and outcomes in case-series making meta-analysis inconclusive (Table 1). Few case-series presented complete data, only one had complete case-mix and indication, and thus these missing data could explain variations in reported patency. In the future, a more complete dataset may allow for a predictive model to be created. Even with the limitations of the current analysis, it is clear that some patients would be expected to have excellent patency (AVF replacement as indication, no previous TCVC, not obese) whereas others will do worse (poor native options, central vein stenosis, multiple prior TCVC and obese). Similarly, when comparing ecAVG to alternative forms of vascular access such as AVF, it is imperative that these factors are considered. In addition, this balance must be considered in context with the differences in the patient outcomes (death and transplantation) that determines the timescale for which vascular access may be required.

The number of potential predictors analysed in the formation of the multivariate model was determined before the analysis was performed on the basis of the 1 in 10 EPP ‘rule’ accepting the limitations to this particularly for time dependent outcomes²³. The predictors chosen (age, sex, number of prior TCVC, indication for AVG, underlying cause of ESRF) were the result of informal opinion from four consultants with vascular access specialist interest and over 45 years of combined clinical experience. Whilst it is accepted that this ‘rule’ has limitations particularly in model validation, refinement testing and in time-to-event analysis, for the first attempt to create a model to determine the relative impacts of these factors, this was thought reasonable²⁴.

Whilst some factors analysed for predictive value were objective and easily recorded (age, BMI), others were subjective and may have had complex interactions. For example, patients with a short RRT history had few TCVC and few attempts at AVF and were thus more likely to have poor native options as the indication for an AVG. On the other hand, patients with a longer RRT time were more likely to have more TCVC, more attempts at AVF and the indication for an AVG was more likely to be CVS or to salvage an AVF. Thus, in developing the model we aimed to select predictors that were independent of each other where possible or modifiable.

The definitions employed for indication were often not based on a single primary indication, but a collection of more than one secondary indication. We have however sought to determine the primary indication on the basis of the surgeon doing the procedure and this was documented prospectively, before the outcomes were known. It is difficult to entirely remove the subjectivity from some of the data whereas other aspects such as the number of TCVCs were entirely objective.

Although this analysis benefits from a unified approach to surgery with a detailed comprehensive follow-up, there is a risk of over-analysis of a limited number of cases and events. However, for clinical decision making, a meaningful clinical endpoint must have sufficient importance to alter management. The findings that urgency and site of AVG do not alter long-term functional patency that is consistent with other reports supports the veracity of the dataset.

The methodology of ascertaining a correlation between functional patency and indication does not necessarily imply causality. We recognise that this simplified terminology summarises the summative endpoint of many complex processes. Thus, whilst the findings of predictors of outcome are interesting and novel, the only way of determining their veracity would be through prospective observation of pre-determined groups. Thus the findings of this study are best interpreted as supportive evidence for key elements of future prospective studies or randomised trials²⁶.

There are four key messages from this analysis: firstly, that every TCVC carries with it an additive cumulative deleterious impact of subsequent patency. It is imperative therefore that early in the patient pathway consideration be given to TCVC-alternatives rather than persisting and have a dual impact – directly from additive TCVC and indirectly in changing the indication from dysfunctional TCVC to CVS or poor native options. Secondly, the outcome of an AVG must be considered and balanced against the alternatives for that patient, rather than the use of unadjusted aggregated outcomes. Thirdly, the optimal use of AVG is not limited to patients who have failed traditional vascular access and have no good options for a native AVF but should be considered an alternative for salvage of a failing AVF. Fourthly, patient centred medicine approaches demand that future trials should incorporate a structure for ensuring that these factors are recorded prospectively with sufficient power to allow meaningful group comparisons to more accurately understand how to optimally tailor treatment to patients.

Data Availability

The datasets analysed during the current study are not publicly available due to patient confidentiality, but non-identifiable data may be made available from the corresponding author and institution on reasonable request and anonymisation.

Author Contributions

All authors reviewed the manuscript. DBK/SR/AI were responsible for data collection. DBK was responsible for data analysis.

Additional Information

The following authors declare competing interests:

DBK – honoraria (WL Gore Ltd), research funding (WL Gore Ltd, Proteon Therapeutics, Merritt Medical, Humacyte)

PT – honoraria (WL Gore Ltd), research funding (WL Gore Ltd, Proteon Therapeutics)

KS – honoraria (WL Gore Ltd), research funding (WL Gore Ltd)

RK – honoraria (WL Gore Ltd), research funding (WL Gore Ltd, Merritt Medical)

AJ / AI / SR – have no conflicts to declare

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Patient Characteristics Predict Patency of Early-Cannulation Arteriovenous Grafts

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Abstract

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Introduction

Methods

Results

Discussion

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References

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Version 1