Angioaccess Surgery Research Articles

Quality indicators of vascular access procedures for hemodialysis

Improved quality of surgical procedures can minimize complications, the morbidity and mortality of patients, and in addition decrease costs. Quality indicators in angioaccess surgery are, however, not clearly defined. The aim of this review article is therefore to find the most important factors affecting quality in vascular access procedures. Even though autogenous arteriovenous fistula has been recognized as the best vascular access for hemodialysis, the high percentage of unsuccessful attempts associated with it raises the question about quality assessment in angioaccess procedures. Unfortunately, quality indicators in vascular access surgery are difficult to define and measure. Among those that can be obtained are: the time between the presentation of patients to a vascular access surgeon and the construction of a fistula, the percentage of autogenous fistulas, the percentage of functional fistulas in prevalent and incident hemodialysis patients, the percentage of creation of a functional fistula in the first attempt, and durability of an access. Organizational improvement and educational programs are also necessary at institutions with inferior quality indicators of vascular access care, as even small increase in quality may mean the survival of an individual patient. Quality indicators in angioaccess surgery can also serve as a helpful tool in choosing the best vascular access surgeon or vascular access center. The choice can consequently reflect on increased survival and quality of life in patients needing hemodialysis.

Quality assessment of vascular access procedures for hemodialysis: A position paper of the Vascular Access Society based on the analysis of existing guidelines.

Quality assessment in vascular access procedures for hemodialysis is not clearly defined. The aim of this article is to compare various guidelines regarding recommendation on quality control in angioaccess surgery. The overall population of end-stage renal disease patients and patients in need for hemodialysis treatment is growing every year. Chronic intermittent hemodialysis is still the main therapy. The formation of a functional angioaccess is the cornerstone in the management of those patients. Native (autologous) arteriovenous fistula is the best vascular access available. A relatively high percentage of primary failure and fistula abandonment increases the need for quality control in this field of surgery. There are very few recommendations of quality assessment on creation of a vascular access for hemodialysis in the searched guidelines. Some guidelines recommend the proportion of native arteriovenous fistula in incident and prevalent patients as well as the maximum tolerable percentage of central venous catheters and complications. According to some guidelines, surgeon's experience and expertise have a considerable influence on outcomes. There are no specific recommendations regarding surgeon's specialty, grade, level of skills, and experience. In conclusion, there is a weak recommendation in the guidelines on quality control in vascular access surgery. Quality assessment criteria should be defined in this field of surgery. According to these criteria, patients and nephrologists could choose the best vascular access center or surgeon. Centers with best results should be referral centers, and centers with poorer results should implement quality improvement programs.

Effects of Heparin on Early Patency of Arteriovenous Fistula in Angioaccess Surgery of Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease

Background: Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is now the optimal method of obtaining vascular access for dialysis. Measures such as systemic anticoagulation have been proposed as means of increasing patency rates but enough evidence does not exist to support their application. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of preoperative heparin injection on patency of AVF during the first 24 hours after surgery and to determine whether such measure can be used to prevent early thrombosis of the vascular access.Methods: The study was carried out on 150 patients admitted to Shohada-e-Tajrish hospital for permanent vascular access placement during 2011-2012. 75 patients were randomly assigned to receive 100 units/kg of heparin intraoperatively and at 24 hours post-surgery AVF patency rate was assessed and compared to the control group. Results: All the 75 patients who had received heparin intraoperatively had a patent arteriovenous fistula 24 hours post-surgery which showed a statistically significant difference compared to the control group among which only 69 (92%) patients had a functioning AV fistula (p-value= 0.028).Conclusions: Our results show that systemic anticoagulation with heparin can be considered as an effective option in preventing vascular access failure. However, considering the contradictory data on the usefulness of heparin injection, larger trials are needed to evaluate efficacy and adverse effects of systemic intraoperative anticoagulation in End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) patients before qualifying it as a method of increasing AVF patency in these patients

The importance of success prediction in angioaccess surgery.

Access to the circulation is an "Achilles' heel" of chronic hemodialysis. According to the current guidelines, autologous arteriovenous fistula is the best choice available. However, the impossibility of immediate use and the high rate of non-matured fistulas place fistula far from an ideal hemodialysis vascular access. The first attempt at constructing an angioaccess should result in functional access as much as possible. After failed attempts, patients and nephrologists lose their patience and confidence, which results in high percentage of central venous catheter use. Predictive models could help, but clinical judgment still remains crucial. Early referral to the nephrologist and vascular access surgeon, careful preoperative examinations, preparation of patients and duplex sonography mapping of the vessels are very important in the preoperative stage. In the operative stage, it is crucial to understand that angioaccess procedures should not be considered as minor procedures and these operations must be performed by surgeons with demonstrable interest and experience. In the postoperative stage, appropriate surveillance of the maturation process is also important, as well as good cannulation skills of the dialysis staff. The purpose of this review article is to stress the importance of success prediction in order to avoid unsuccessful attempts in angioaccess surgery.

Using distal revascularization with interval ligation as the primary treatment of hand ischemia after dialysis access creation

Arterial steal syndrome after angioaccess surgery can lead to potentially devastating complications. Past treatments either ensured loss of the newly created access through ligation or attempted salvage by increasing resistance within the fistula. None of these proved to be entirely satisfactory. In 1994, we began to employ distal revascularization with interval ligation (DRIL) as our primary method of relieving hand ischemia after dialysis access creation. Described here is our experience with this procedure. After institutional review board approval, the charts of patients undergoing the DRIL procedure for relief of hand ischemia after dialysis access surgery were reviewed. Patient demographics, risk factors, types of fistulas, and indications for operation were recorded. The clinical results of DRIL surgery, as well as fistula and bypass graft patency, were noted. Between May 1994 and August 2011, 81 DRIL procedures were performed on 77 patients ranging from 37 to 94 (mean, 65) years of age. Forty-four were female and 33 were male, with diabetes present in 83.3%. DRIL procedures were performed for ischemic symptoms after 37 autogenous brachiocephalic, 30 prosthetic bridge, and 14 autogenous brachiobasilic fistulas. Thirty-eight DRIL procedures were performed for ischemic rest pain (46.9%), 21 for digital ulceration (25.9%), 16 for neurological deficits (19.7%), and six for digital gangrene (7.4%). Complete symptom resolution was seen in 31 patients with ischemic rest pain (81.6%), 19 patients with digital ulcerations (90.5%), nine patients with neurological deficits (56.3%), and five patients with digital gangrene (83.3%). Fistula and brachial-brachial bypass survival 60 months after the DRIL procedure was 56% and 96.9%, respectively. The overall complication rate was 17.2%, and no patients died within 30 days of operation. The DRIL procedure is a very effective treatment for symptomatic steal syndrome and is associated with low morbidity and mortality. It is extremely effective in the treatment of ischemic hand pain and tissue loss, but less so for neurological sequelae. It can allow for prolonged fistula utilization.

An 18-Year Experience Utilizing Distal Revascularization With Interval Ligation (DRIL) as the Primary Treatment for Hand Ischemia Following Dialysis Access Creation

Arterial steal syndrome after angioaccess surgery can lead to potentially devastating complications. Past treatments ensured loss of the newly created access by performing ligation or attempted salvage by increasing resistance within the fistula. None of these proved to be entirely satisfactory. In 1994, we began to use distal revascularization with interval ligation (DRIL) as our primary method of relieving hand ischemia after dialysis access creation. We describe our experience with this procedure. After Investigational Review Board approval, the records of all patients undergoing the DRIL procedure for relief of hand ischemia after dialysis access surgery were reviewed. Patient demographics, risk factors, type of fistula, and indications for operation were recorded. The clinical results of DRIL surgery, duration of fistula use for dialysis, and bypass graft patency were noted. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were created, and differences between groups were tested by the log-rank method. Fistula survival was defined as the duration of use before abandonment as the primary method of achieving dialysis access, and bypass graft survival was determined by clinical examination or duplex scan. Between May 1994 and August 2011, 81 DRIL procedures were performed on 77 patients (32 men, 45 women) with a mean age of 64 years (range, 37-91 years). Diabetes was present in 77.6%. DRIL procedures were performed for ischemic symptoms after 51 autogenous fistulas (37 brachiocephalic and 14 brachiobasilic), and 30 were created after prosthetic bridge fistulas. Thirty-eight DRILS were performed for patients with ischemic rest pain, 20 after the development of digital ulcers, 16 to help resolve neurologic symptoms, and seven to heal digital gangrene. After performance of the DRIL procedure, complete resolution of symptoms was noted in 90% of patients treated for digital ulceration, 81.6% of patients treated for ischemic rest pain, 56.3% of patients treated for neurologic deficits, and 42.9% of patients treated for digital gangrene. Overall fistula survival after the DRIL procedure was 70.1%, 57.8%, and 44.5% at 12, 24, and 36 months, respectively. Autogenous fistulas had a significantly longer survival after DRIL than prosthetic bridge fistulas (P = .009). The 5-year patency of the brachial-brachial bypass graft was 93.7%. No patients died ≤30 days of operation. The DRIL procedure is a very effective treatment of hand ischemia after dialysis access creation and can be performed with a low mortality. It is extremely successful in treating ischemic rest pain and digital ulceration, but less so when used to treat patients with digital gangrene and neurologic deficits. Autogenous fistula survival after the creation of the DRIL is excellent and considerably longer than that of prosthetic bridge fistulas.

Assessment of Long-Term Vasoplegia Induced by Brachial Plexus Block: A Favorable Effect for Hemodialysis Angioaccess Surgery?

Loco-regional anesthesia, along with the neurosensitive inhibition causes arterial and venous vasodilatation, that could be of interest for vascular access surgery. We evaluated the long term vasoplegia persistence after brachial plexic block. Five patients submitted to brachial plexus block for an orthopedic procedure have been observed. Both radial arteries, that of the blocked arm and the opposite as a control, were analyzed by ultrasound examination, at time 0 and 360 minutes after anesthesia induction. All patients were treated with the same anesthesiologic protocol: axillary approach, use of an electroneurostimulator, injection 10 ml of ropivacain 7.5% + 10 ml of mepivacain 2%. The parameters evaluated from the arterial ultrasound flowmetry were: peak systolic velocity (PSV), end diastolic velocity (EDV) and resistance index (RI). No modification of the arterial flow were observed in the control arm at 0 and 360'after block induction. The blocked arm instead showed a significant decrease of the resistive index, stable at 360 minutes. The vasoplegia accompaning plexic block lasted 6 hours after anesthesia induction. Whereas this longstanding haemodynamic effect is beneficial for early patency of vascular access for hemodialysis, needs to be ascertained by further investigations.

A Prospective Clinical Evaluation of the Effects of Intraoperative Systemic Anticoagulation in Patients Undergoing Arteriovenous Fistula Surgery

No standard presently exists for the use of systemic heparin during angioaccess surgery to decrease the incidence of postoperative thrombotic complications. Our objective was to study the effects of intraoperatively administered heparin on 30-day patency and postoperative bleeding complications in patients undergoing autogenous arteriovenous (AV) fistula surgery. A prospective, double-blinded, randomized controlled study was performed on 48 patients undergoing AV fistula creation from April 2007 through November 2009. Of the 48 patients, 22 were randomized to the control group and received no heparin. Twenty-six were randomized to receive heparin (75 units/kg intravenously) before clamping of the artery. There was no significant difference in 30-day patency between the heparin and control groups (92% vs. 86%, P = 0.65), respectively. Three patients (12%) developed hematomas in the heparin group compared with one (5%) in the control group; however the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.61). The results suggest that intraoperative administration of heparin has no statistically significant effect on 30-day patency rates or postoperative bleeding complications. Larger trials with longer term follow-up and assessment of maturation rates are needed to determine the effect of intraoperative anticoagulation on these outcomes of arteriovenous fistula surgery.

The Effect of Systemic Anticoagulation in Patients Undergoing Angioaccess Surgery

The Effect of Systemic Anticoagulation in Patients Undergoing Angioaccess Surgery

The Effect of Systemic Anticoagulation in Patients Undergoing Angioaccess Surgery

The benefit of intravenous heparin as an anticoagulant to avoid thrombotic complications during angioaccess surgery for hemodialysis is unknown. We prospectively randomized 115 consecutive patients referred to our institution for permanent hemodialysis access to receive systemic anticoagulation or no anticoagulation during angioaccess surgery. Patient demographics, comorbid conditions, procedure time, complications, and patency were recorded in accordance with standards recommended by the Society for Vascular Surgery. Of the 115 patients randomized, 58 received no anticoagulation and 57 received systemic anticoagulation with intravenous heparin. Arteriovenous fistulas were created in 84 patients and 31 arteriovenous grafts were inserted. Operative times were longer for grafts compared to fistulas, but there were no significant differences in operative times between patients receiving anticoagulation and those not (p = 0.31). Perioperative bleeding complications were more common in patients receiving heparin (p = 0.008). The primary 30-day patency was 84% for patients receiving heparin and 86% for those not (p = 0.79). The 3-month functional patency was 68% for both groups (p = 0.99). Age, gender, operative time, and incidence of bleeding complications had no impact on patency. In our experience, systemic anticoagulation for angioaccess surgery is associated with an increased incidence of bleeding complications and offers no advantage in terms of early patency.

Atlas of angioaccess surgery. Pedro A. Rubio, Edward M. Farrell. 310 × 260 mm. Pp. 260 + xi. Illustrated. 1983. Oxford: Blackwell Scientific. £83.60

Journal Article Atlas of angioaccess surgery. Pedro A. Rubio, Edward M. Farrell. 310 × 260 mm. Pp. 260 + xi. Illustrated. 1983. Oxford: Blackwell Scientific. £83.60 Get access Atlas of Angioaccess Surgery. Pedro A Rubio, Edward M Farrell. 310 × 260 mm. Pp. 260 + xi. Illustrated. 1983. Oxford: Blackwell Scientific. £83.60. J H N Wolfe J H N Wolfe Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar British Journal of Surgery, Volume 71, Issue 2, February 1984, Page 170, https://doi.org/10.1002/bjs.1800710243 Published: 07 December 2005

Treatment of Hand Ischemia Following Angioaccess Surgery Using the Distal Revascularization Interval-Ligation Technique with Preservation of Vascular Access: Description of an 18-Case Series

Hand ischemia is a rare complication of angioaccess surgery for hemodialysis. Management usually requires ligation of the arteriovenous fistula (AVF). The purpose of this report is to describe our experience with the use of the distal revascularization interval-ligation (DRIL) technique for treatment of ischemia without ligation of the AVF. From January 1999 to September 2002, the DRIL technique was used to treat 18 patients (10 men, 8 women, 10 diabetic patients) with severe paresthesia of the hand (n = 9) and finger necrosis (n = 10). The AVF was located at the elbow in 16 patients and at the wrist in 2 patients. Mean flow distal to the AVF was less than 10 mL in 5 patients, less than 5 mL in 10, and unmeasurable in 3. The conduit used for all DRIL arterial bypasses, including 15 brachiobrachial bypasses, 1 axillobrachial bypass, 1 brachioradial bypass, and 1 radioradial bypass, was the great saphenous vein graft. Trophic manifestations required finger amputation in five patients, pulpar necrosis resection in four, and transmetacarpal amputation of the index finger in one patient. Symptoms disappeared in 13 patients (73%) and improved in 5 (27%). The time required for healing of finger amputations and trophic manifestations ranged from 15 days to 2 months. Mean arterial flow through the DRIL bypass was 50 mL/min (range, 20-90 mL/min). With a mean follow-up interval of 16 months (range, 5-48 months), primary patency of the DRIL artery bypass and AVF was 94% and the limb salvage rate was 100%. The DRIL technique is the most effective procedure for treatment of angioaccess-induced hand ischemia. This technique can be used to achieve persistent relief of symptoms with continued access patency. The DRIL artery bypass improves vacularization of the hand, and ligature of the artery stops the vascular steal without affecting hemodialysis access. The DRIL technique should be proposed as first-line treatment for hand ischemia due to AVF for hemodialysis.

Increasing arteriovenous fistulas in hemodialysis patients: Problems and solutions

Increasing arteriovenous fistulas in hemodialysis patients: Problems and solutions

Critical Hand Ischemia after Angioaccess Surgery: Diagnosis and Treatment

Severe hand ischemia is an uncommon complication of angioaccess surgery. Prompt recognition is necessary to prevent finger necrosis and permanent nerve damage. Treatment should relieve symptoms without compromising dialysis access. From January 1989 to September 1999, we treated critical hand ischemia in 23 patients (16 men, 7 women), including 8 diabetic patients with a total of 19 arteriovenous fistulas (AVF) and 4 arteriovenous grafts (AVG). In 21 patients, the symptom was critical ischemia, with finger necrosis occurring in 7 patients. In the remaining two patients, the manifestation was acute ischemia due to venous thrombosis. Four patients required finger amputation. Fifteen patients (65%) had previous AVF on the lateral extremity. The mean number of previous AVF in this group was 2.5 (range, 2 to 6). Various treatments were used for arterial insufficiency (n = 20), including ligation of the fistula (n = 8), distal revascularization-interval ligation (DRIL) (n = 4), bypass (n = 4), sympathectomy (n = 1), ligation of the radial artery (n = 1), medical therapy (n = 1), and banding technique (n = 1). Medical therapy and banding relieved symptoms after thrombosis of the AVF. Through the use of DRIL, healing of finger necrosis (n = 3) and improvement of symptoms (n = 1) were achieved. The findings of this study indicate that severe hand ischemia occurs mainly in diabetic patients with multiple previous AVF and finger arteriopathy. DRIL is the conservative treatment of choice, since it can be used to achieve both symptomatic relief and maintenance of dialysis access.

Changes in the practice of angioaccess surgery: Impact of dialysis outcome and quality initiative recommendations

Purpose: Recommendations recently published by the National Kidney Foundation—Dialysis Outcome and Quality Initiative (DOQI) included an appeal for increased use of native arteriovenous fistulas (NAVFs) to improve overall patency and contain angioaccess costs. We evaluated the impact of the DOQI recommendations on angioaccess surgery and its outcome at our institution. Methods: From June 1996 to April 1999, 483 angioaccess procedures were performed on 247 patients. There were 133 men and 114 women, with an average age ranging from 28 to 95 years (mean age, 69 ± 0.59 years). Risk factors included smoking in 143 patients (58%), diabetes mellitus in 135 patients (55%), hypertension in 150 patients (61%), and coronary artery disease in 98 patients (40%). The patients were divided in two groups. Group I (pre-DOQI) included patients who had angioaccess procedures between June 1996 and November 1997, and group II (post-DOQI) included patients who had angioaccess procedures between December 1997 and April 1999. The types of procedures performed included placement of arteriovenous grafts (AVGs) in 122 patients (25%), creation of NAVFs in 99 patients (20%), revision of AVGs in 123 patients (25%), and temporary access procedures in 135 patients (28%). Forty-seven of the NAVF procedures were radial-cephalic fistulas (47%), 22 were brachial-cephalic fistulas (23%), and 30 were brachial-basilic fistulas (30%). Patients underwent serial ultrasonography scanning and physical examinations; the mean follow-up period was 9 months. Choice of angioaccess procedures and patency rates before and after implementation of the DOQI recommendations were compared. Results: There was a significant increase in the use of NAVFs after implementing DOQI recommendations (5% vs 68%, P < .001). The 1-year primary patency rate of AVGs was less than that of arteriovenous fistulas (54% vs 85%, P <.001). During the study period, the percentage of AVGs placed at our institution that required revision (59%; 72 of 123) was higher than that of NAVFs that required revision (4%; 4 of 99; P < .001). There was no significant difference in the maturation rates of radial-cephalic fistulas (75%), brachial-cephalic fistulas (91%), and brachial-basilic fistulas (87%). Conclusion: By adopting the DOQI recommendations, we used NAVFs more often. This resulted in superior patency rates, compared with synthetic grafts. The liberal use of preoperative duplex venous mapping further increased NAVF use, surpassing the DOQI expectations for primary arteriovenous fistulas. Additionally, fewer revisions were required. (J Vasc Surg 2000;31:84-92.)

Pathogenesis and management of upper-extremity ischemia following angioaccess surgery.

Thirty-four patients with end-stage renal disease requiring hemodialysis developed over the course of 7 years (1987-1994) severe ischemia in the extremity carrying the angioaccess secondary to arterial 'steal'. Seven of these patients were treated with access ligation, 4 with banding reducing the flow through the access, and 23 with ligation of the artery distal to the inflow of the arteriovenous fistula and establishing of an arterial bypass from a point 5 cm proximal to the fistula to the distal artery. Of the 7 patients who underwent ligation, 5 had complete resolution of symptoms, 1 had persistent pain, and 1 patient had residual ischemic neuropathy. Of the 4 patients who underwent banding, 3 lost their access due to thrombosis shortly after the banding procedure, and in 1 patient partial resolution of symptoms was achieved. Of the 23 patients who underwent arterial ligation-bypass procedure, all showed immediate signs of improvement. One patient who presented with advanced gangrene eventually required amputation, and 3 patients had some residual symptoms. The cumulative patency of the access with this procedure was 73% at 1 year and 45.5% at 2 years. The patency for the bypass was 95.6% at 1 and 2 years. The arterial ligation-bypass procedure is currently the treatment of choice for patients developing severe ischemia secondary to 'steal' following construction of an arteriovenous fistula for dialysis.

Major Complications of Angioaccess Surgery

Angioaccess procedures at one institution over a 4-yearperiod were retrospectively reviewed to ascertain the frequency of major limb- or life-threatening complications. A total of 435 angioaccess procedures were performed, including 81 Cimino-Brescia fistulas, 166 polytetrafluoroethylene grafts, and 111 thrombectomy/revisions. There were 77 operations for major complications in 53 patients. In addition, five patients required major vascular repair or emergency thoracotomy for complications of central hemodialysis line placement. A significant portion (18% of this series) of thetotal angioaccess caseload of a vascular surgeon will be utilized in the repair of major complications. The in-hospital (6 patients, or 11%) and longterm (12 patients, or 23%) mortality rates are significant. Although most complications can be repaired without limb loss and with shunt salvage, a small percentage (in our study three patients, or 4%) will have debilitating long-term symptoms.

Major complications of angioaccess surgery

Angioaccess procedures at one institution over a 4-year period were retrospectively reviewed to ascertain the frequency of major limb- or life-threatening complications. A total of 435 angioaccess procedures were performed, including 81 Cimino-Brescia fistulas, 166 polytetrafluoroethylene grafts, and 111 thrombectomy/revisions. There were 77 operations for major complications in 53 patients. In addition, five patients required major vascular repair or emergency thoracotomy for complications of central hemodialysis line placement. A significant portion (18% of this series) of the total angioaccess caseload of a vascular surgeon will be utilized in the repair of major complications. The in-hospital (6 patients, or 11%) and long-term (12 patients, or 23%) mortality rates are significant. Although most complications can be repaired without limb loss and with shunt salvage, a small percentage (in our study three patients, or 4%) will have debilitating long-term symptoms.

National documentation and information activities in the social sciences in Norway

Purpose: Recommendations recently published by the National Kidney Foundation—Dialysis Outcome and Quality Initiative (DOQI) included an appeal for increased use of native arteriovenous fistulas (NAVFs) to improve overall patency and contain angioaccess costs. We evaluated the impact of the DOQI recommendations on angioaccess surgery and its outcome at our institution. Methods: From June 1996 to April 1999, 483 angioaccess procedures were performed on 247 patients. There were 133 men and 114 women, with an average age ranging from 28 to 95 years (mean age, 69 ± 0.59 years). Risk factors included smoking in 143 patients (58%), diabetes mellitus in 135 patients (55%), hypertension in 150 patients (61%), and coronary artery disease in 98 patients (40%). The patients were divided in two groups. Group I (pre-DOQI) included patients who had angioaccess procedures between June 1996 and November 1997, and group II (post-DOQI) included patients who had angioaccess procedures between December 1997 and April 1999. The types of procedures performed included placement of arteriovenous grafts (AVGs) in 122 patients (25%), creation of NAVFs in 99 patients (20%), revision of AVGs in 123 patients (25%), and temporary access procedures in 135 patients (28%). Forty-seven of the NAVF procedures were radial-cephalic fistulas (47%), 22 were brachial-cephalic fistulas (23%), and 30 were brachial-basilic fistulas (30%). Patients underwent serial ultrasonography scanning and physical examinations; the mean follow-up period was 9 months. Choice of angioaccess procedures and patency rates before and after implementation of the DOQI recommendations were compared. Results: There was a significant increase in the use of NAVFs after implementing DOQI recommendations (5% vs 68%, P < .001). The 1-year primary patency rate of AVGs was less than that of arteriovenous fistulas (54% vs 85%, P <.001). During the study period, the percentage of AVGs placed at our institution that required revision (59%; 72 of 123) was higher than that of NAVFs that required revision (4%; 4 of 99; P < .001). There was no significant difference in the maturation rates of radial-cephalic fistulas (75%), brachial-cephalic fistulas (91%), and brachial-basilic fistulas (87%). Conclusion: By adopting the DOQI recommendations, we used NAVFs more often. This resulted in superior patency rates, compared with synthetic grafts. The liberal use of preoperative duplex venous mapping further increased NAVF use, surpassing the DOQI expectations for primary arteriovenous fistulas. Additionally, fewer revisions were required. (J Vasc Surg 2000;31:84-92.)