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ObjectiveThe Kidney Disease Outcome Quality Initiative and Fistula First Breakthrough Initiative call for the indiscriminate creation of arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) over arteriovenous grafts (AVGs) without providing patient-specific criteria for vascular access selection. Although the U.S. AVF rate has increased dramatically, several reports have found that this singular focus on increasing AVFs has resulted in increased AVF nonmaturation/early failure and a high prevalence of catheter dependence. The objective of this study was to determine the appropriateness of vascular access procedures in clinical scenarios constructed with combinations of relevant factors potentially influencing outcomes.MethodsThe RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method was used. Accordingly, a comprehensive literature search was performed and a synthesis of results compiled. The RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method was applied to 2088 AVF and 1728 AVG clinical scenarios with varying patient characteristics. Eleven international vascular access experts rated the appropriateness of each scenario in two rounds. On the basis of the distribution of the panelists' scores, each scenario was determined to be appropriate, inappropriate, or indeterminate.ResultsPanelists achieved agreement in 2964 (77.7%) scenarios; 860 (41%) AVF and 588 (34%) AVG scenarios were scored appropriate, 686 (33%) AVF and 480 (28%) AVG scenarios were scored inappropriate, and 542 (26%) AVF and 660 (38%) AVG scenarios were indeterminate. Younger age, larger outflow vein diameter, normal or obese body mass index (vs morbidly obese), larger inflow artery diameter, and higher patient functional status were associated with appropriateness of AVF creation. Older age, dialysis dependence, and smaller vein size were associated with appropriateness of AVG creation. Gender, diabetes, and coronary artery disease were not associated with AVF or AVG appropriateness. Dialysis status was not associated with AVF appropriateness. Body mass index and functional status were not associated with AVG appropriateness. To simulate the surgeon's decision-making, scenarios were combined to create situations with the same patient characteristics and both AVF and AVG options for access. Of these 864 clinical situations, 311 (36%) were rated appropriate for AVG but inappropriate or indeterminate for AVF.ConclusionsThe results of this study indicate that patient-specific situations exist wherein AVG is as appropriate as or more appropriate than AVF. These results provide patient-specific recommendations for clinicians to optimize vascular access selection criteria, to standardize care, and to inform payers and policy. Indeterminate scenarios will guide future research.

V-Healthy (Center for Vascular Awareness Inc, Latham NY) is a grassroots vascular health education and awareness campaign that educates high school students about the importance of the vascular disease risks they face today and its impact decades later, and empowers health care professionals and schoolteachers to lead vascular health education in their communities. This study evaluates the impact of the V-Healthy initiative in empowering and educating adolescents about the implications of vascular disease risk factors and in creating a blueprint for a community outreach program that focuses on vascular health and disease education and awareness. The V-Healthy program is an initiative that connects community vascular health care professionals and educators with high school students, for a day of vascular health education. The V-Healthy program curriculum is provided in two distinct stages. Stage I consists of didactic vascular health education and takes place in the classroom for the duration of one class period (40-50 minutes). The class period is divided into four sessions including a PowerPoint presentation to teach the impact of vascular disease risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, smoking/vaping, and genetics) on the development of peripheral arterial disease, venous disease, aortic disease, and stroke, and three hands-on sessions that introduce students to vascular innovation and technology, vascular patients, and the diagnosis of a vascular disease risk factor such as hypertension. Stage I concludes with a student questionnaire aimed to gauge students' retention of the material and attitude toward the program. Stage II offers students (with parental consent) the opportunity to participate in the " Diagnosing Hypertension " study. Students were provided automated blood pressure monitors and taught to measure blood pressure in their parents daily for 1 week. Findings are recorded in designated blood pressure logs, which are then categorized using the 2018 American Heart Association blood pressure categorization system: normal (<120/<80), elevated (120-129/<80), stage I (130-139/80-89), or stage II (≥140/≥90). No identifiable student or guardian information is collected. Over 3 years, more than 12,000 students participated in the V-Healthy program and 5120 students completed student surveys, which indicated that 97% improved their understanding of vascular health, >93% could identify vascular disease risk factors, 84% wanted to educate their families, and 76% wanted more vascular health education. A total of 1064 students participated in the " Diagnosing Hypertension " study and diagnosed hypertension in 73% of their parents: 34% for stage I hypertension and 39% for stage II hypertension. Over a 3-year period of this study, the number of schools participating increased 20-fold (from 1 to 20), the number of volunteer vascular health professionals and schoolteachers increased 13-fold (from 16 to 210), and our ability to connect with and impact high school students grew 15-fold (from 800 to over 12,000). V-Healthy is the first program to connect over 12,000 students to vascular health professionals in their communities to empower them to diagnose and understand vascular disease risk factors and their implications on the development of vascular disease. Furthermore, the V-Healthy program has displayed substantial growth over a 3-year period in impacting high school students and vascular health care professionals, and has the potential to be used as a blueprint for community-based vascular health education and awareness initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Previous studies have demonstrated that low contrast volume used in access-related interventions had limited effects on the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) after fistulography, but studies are limited and heterogeneous. We sought to evaluate the rate of and factors associated with progression to dialysis (HD) within 1 month after fistulography for patients with advanced CKD. Methods: A single-institution retrospective cohort analysis of patients with CKD stage IV and V, not yet on HD, undergoing fistulography from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2018 was performed. The primary outcome was progression to HD within 1 month. Additional variables and the association with the primary outcome such as medical comorbidities, contrast type or volume were assessed. Results: A total of 34 patients underwent 41 fistulograms prior to HD initiation. Progression to HD within 1 month of fistulogram occurred in seven patients (all CKD V). The mean time between fistulogram and HD was 271 days for 31 of 34 patients who ultimately progressed to HD. Those with CKD IV began HD in 549 days on average, while those with CKD V began HD in 190 days on average. Three patients had not initiated HD at a mean of 539 days of follow-up. The only factors associated with progression to HD within 1 month included use of isovue (p = .005) and elevated contrast volume, with a mean of 40 mL (p = .027). Conclusion: Although none of the patients with CKD IV required HD within 1 month after fistulogram, the use of larger iodinated contrast volume was associated with progression to HD within 1 month of fistulography for patients with CKD V. Further studies should investigate the safety of iodinated and alternative (e.g., carbon dioxide) contrast media in fistulography or duplex-based HD access procedures for CKD patients, especially CKD V, not yet on HD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Complications from vascular access are the leading cause of morbidity in the hemodialysis population. The use of tunneled catheters is associated with a greater risk of bacteremia and mortality when compared to other types of hemodialysis access. Infective endocarditis is a serious complication occurring in 2–5% of patients undergoing hemodialysis and is likely secondary to transient bacteremia from repetitive vascular access. Objective: To review outcomes in hemodialysis-dependent patients requiring cardiac valve replacement for infective endocarditis. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted to identify all patients who underwent valve replacement within a six-year period (January 2009–December 2014). Inclusion criteria included a diagnosis of infective endocarditis and end stage renal disease on hemodialysis. Relevant clinical information including demographics, comorbidities, valve involvement, causative organisms, and type of hemodialysis access (arteriovenous fistula, arteriovenous graft, or tunneled catheter) was collected. Results: A total of 1497 patients underwent cardiac valve replacement within the six-year period. Of these, 167 patients (11.2%) had infective endocarditis and 119 patients (7.9%) had end stage renal disease on hemodialysis. Overall 30-day mortality for valve replacement was 5.0% (75/1497). Mortality for patients with infective endocarditis was 7.2% (12/167) and for patients with end stage renal disease on hemodialysis was 10.1% (12/119). Thirty-three patients (2.2%) had infective endocarditis and end stage renal disease on hemodialysis. Of these, 12 patients were being dialyzed via arteriovenous fistula, 4 via arteriovenous graft, and 17 via tunneled catheter. Mortality occurred in 2 of 12 patients with arteriovenous fistula, 1 of 4 patients with arteriovenous graft, and 2 of 17 patients with tunneled catheter for an overall mortality of 15.2% (5/33). Conclusion: Infective endocarditis remains a significant problem in patients with end stage renal disease on hemodialysis, particularly when tunneled catheters are utilized for hemodialysis access. Although appropriate algorithms have been developed to minimize long term use of tunneled catheters, bacteremia remains a significant problem. We reviewed our institutional experience and the medical literature to determine outcomes in hemodialysis-dependent patients with infective endocarditis requiring valve replacement. Despite mortality rates between 42 and 73% reported in the literature, our mortality rate was 15.2%. 1 Care of these critically ill patients must emphasize early diagnosis and aggressive management to optimize outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]