Outcomes comparison of HeRO and lower extremity arteriovenous grafts in patients with long-standing renal failure

Abstract

The Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow (HeRO) graft is becoming a recognized alternative to lower extremity arteriovenous grafts (LEAVGs) as an option for patients who have exhausted traditional upper extremity access; however, which should be applied preferentially is unclear. A retrospective review of LEAVG and HeRO implants from January 2004 to August 2010 was performed. Patient demographics, medical history, procedural data, and outcomes were evaluated. Within the time periods, 60 HeROs were placed in 59 patients and 22 LEAVGs were placed in 21 patients. Demographics were similar between the two groups for many factors; however, the patients who underwent HeRO placement had significantly higher body mass index compared with the LEAVG group. Mean follow-up was 13.9 months for the HeRO group and 11.9 months for the LEAVG group. The HeRO patients underwent a mean of 6.3 previous tunneled dialysis catheter insertions and 3.1 previous AVG/arteriovenous fistula placements. The LEAVG patients underwent placement of a mean of 4.1 previous tunneled dialysis catheters and 2.6 previous AVG/arteriovenous fistulas. The principal difference was the number of interventions to maintain patency, which was 2.21 per year in the HeRO group and 1.17 per year in the AVG group (P = .003) Secondary patency at 6 months was 77% for the HeRO patients and 83% for the LEAVG patients (P = .14). The HeRO and LEAVG groups had no difference in infection rate per 1000 days (0.61 vs 0.71; P = .77) or mortality rate (22% vs 19% respectively; P = .22) at 6 months. In access challenged patients, LEAVG and HeRO offer similar rates of secondary patency, infection, and all-cause mortality. The LEAVG required fewer interventions to maintain patency, and the HeRO maintains the benefit of utilizing the upper extremity site of venous drainage. In our practice, we prefer the HeRO to LEAVG, especially in patients with peripheral arterial disease and in the obese population, because it preserves lower extremity access options.