Editor's Choice - Outcomes of Single or Two Stage Brachiobasilic Arteriovenous Fistula: A Nationwide Swedish Registry Study.

OBJECTIVE

Creation of a brachiobasilic arteriovenous fistula (BBAVF) can be performed as either a one or two stage procedure; however, evidence for the best technique is conflicting. The aim of this national registry review was to determine whether functional outcomes favoured either method.

METHODS

This was a retrospective observational study with data from the Swedish Renal Registry. BBAVFs created in patients aged ≥ 18 years between 2011 and 2019 were included and were categorised as one stage (BB1) or two stage (BB2). Outcome, patency, and complications were captured from creation onwards, as were all open and endovascular repeat procedures.

RESULTS

BB1s (n = 224) were more common than BB2s (n = 83). Of the BB2s, 66 (80%) were transposed in the second stage. The most common reason for not performing transposition was occlusion (n = 10). The median follow up was two years (interquartile range [IQR] 0.8, 4.2). Overall, 31% of BBAVFs were never used. Vein stenosis was common, seen in 157 BB1s (70%) and 40 BB2s (48%). The incidence of endovascular interventions per patient year was two times higher in BB1s than BB2s (0.6 vs. 0.3). Primary patency at one year was 39% and 54% in BB1 and BB2, respectively (p = .002). Secondary patency at one and three years was similar between groups (BB1 81% and 69%, and BB2 82% and 78%; p = .14). Diabetes as a comorbidity and female sex were associated with worse patency, but body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m was not. Creation pre-dialysis did not affect patency. The median time from creation to first puncture was 73 days (IQR 51, 157) and 141 days (IQR 105, 225) for BB1 and BB2, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The two stage method had superior primary patency, counterbalanced by two operations. Long term patency was equivalent for the two surgical techniques. The incidence of endovascular re-interventions was high, and BBAVFs were less usable in females and patients with diabetes as a comorbidity.