system
Medical AI Inquiry: You was designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.  Labels: OBJECTIVE, METHODS, RESULTS. Meshes: Arm, Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical, Brachial Artery, Female, Graft Occlusion, Vascular, Humans, Kidney Failure, Chronic, Male, Middle Aged, Renal Dialysis, Retrospective Studies, Vascular Patency, Veins.
user
Does increased use of brachiocephalic arteriovenous fistulas improve functional primary patency? Context: As vascular surgeons strive to meet the Fistula First Initiative, some authors have observed a decrease in arteriovenous fistula (AVF) maturation rates in association with an increase in AVF creation. In May 2012, we adopted a practice change in an attempt to maintain the same high level of AVF creation while leading to a decrease in fistula failures. A retrospective study was conducted of all dialysis access procedures performed by a single vascular surgeon before (period 1; before May 1, 2012) and after (period 2; after May 1, 2012) the change in practice pattern. The adopted change included favoring the brachiocephalic location unless the patient was an ideal anatomic candidate for a radiocephalic AVF, creating a larger and standardized arteriotomy, and using a large venous footplate whenever possible. The main outcome measure was primary functional patency at 1 year. Secondary outcome measures included primary patency at 1 year, time to maturation, type of fistula created, steal syndrome, and tunneled hemodialysis catheter infections. Of 213 vascular access procedures performed, 191 (90%) were AVFs. There was no difference in use of AVFs between period 1 (93% AVFs) and period 2 (88% AVFs; P = .2). Use of brachiocephalic AVFs increased from 38% in period 1 to 56% in period 2 (P = .01), with a corresponding trend toward a decrease in radiocephalic AVFs in period 2 (36% in period 1 to 27% in period 2; P = .2). Primary functional patency at 1 year was 47% in period 1 and 63% in period 2 (P = .03). Primary patency at 1 year was 51% in period 1 and 70% in period 2 (P = .001). Time to reach functional maturation was decreased in period 2 (median, 76 vs 82.5 days; P = .046). There was no difference in steal syndrome (P = 1.0), and the incidence of hemodialysis catheter infections was lower in period 2 (0 vs 7 [7%]; P = .006).
assistant
Increasing brachiocephalic AVF creation and reducing our reliance on radiocephalic AVFs resulted in a significant increase in primary functional patency at 1 year. This was achieved while maintaining the same high percentage of fistulas, a lower rate of central catheter infections, and the same low incidence of steal syndrome. Final Decision: yes