The Role of Regional versus General Anesthesia on Arteriovenous Fistula and Graft Outcomes: A Single-Institution Experience and Literature Review

Similar outcomes of arteriovenous fistulae created under general or regional anesthesia

BACKGROUND

There is growing evidence that type of anesthesia can significantly change vascular access surgery outcomes. Still, there is limited evidence on the impact of regional anesthesia (RA) on patency and failure rates compared to general anesthesia (GA). The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of RA and GA in patients who underwent vascular access creation at our center.

METHODS

Data collected in our prospectively maintained database of patients with chronic renal dysfunction requiring hemodialysis were analyzed, 464 patients were included. Outcome parameters such as maturation, primary failure, postoperative flow measurements, patency rates, and survival outcomes were compared between RA and GA groups.

RESULTS

In this study 489 vascular access procedures were performed in 464 patients, 318 included in the RA group and 171 in the GA group. Median follow-up time was 29.9 (IQR 37.3) months in the RA group versus 33.0 (IQR 40.7) in the GA group (p = 0.252). Anesthesia type did not significantly affect patient survival (HR, 1.01; CI, 0.70-1.45; p = 0.976). No significant differences were found in vascular access flow volume, primary failure, or time to cannulation between the RA and GA groups for both radiocephalic arteriovenous fistulae and brachiocephalic arteriovenous fistulae. Anesthesia type did not significantly change patency outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on our results, both RA and GA demonstrate similar results regarding patient survival, maturation, failure, or patency after vascular access creation. Still, patient-specific factors for each type of anesthesia as well as patient preference should be considered.

Patient selection in ambulatory surgery

Patient selection is important for ambulatory surgical practices. Proper patient selection for ambulatory practices will optimize resources and lead to increased patient and provider satisfaction. As the number and complexity of procedures in ambulatory surgical centers increase, it is important to ensure that patients are best cared for in facilities that can provide appropriate levels of care. This review addresses the multiple variables and resources that should be considered when selecting patients for anesthesia in ambulatory centers and offices.

Anesthetic choice for arteriovenous access creation: A National Anesthesia Clinical Outcomes Registry analysis

BACKGROUND

We sought to evaluate differences in primary anesthetic type used in arteriovenous access creation with the hypothesis that administration of regional anesthesia and monitored anesthesia care (MAC) with local anesthesia as the primary anesthetic has increased over time.

METHODS

National Anesthesia Clinical Outcomes Registry data were retrospectively evaluated. Covariates were selected a priori within multivariate models to determine predictors of anesthetic type in adults who underwent elective arteriovenous access creation between 2010 and 2018.

RESULTS

A total of 144,392 patients met criteria; 90,741 (62.8%) received general anesthesia. The use of regional anesthesia and MAC decreased over time (8.0%-6.8%, 36.8%-27.8%, respectively; both p < 0.0001). Patients who underwent regional anesthesia were more likely to have ASA physical status >III and to reside in rural areas (52.3% and 12.9%, respectively; both p < 0.0001). Patients who underwent MAC were more likely to be older, male, receive care outside the South, and reside in urban areas (median age 65, 56.8%, 68.1%, and 70.8%, respectively; all p < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis revealed that being male, having an ASA physical status >III, and each 5-year increase in age resulted in increased odds of receiving alternatives to general anesthesia (regional anesthesia adjusted odds ratios (AORs) 1.06, 1.12, and 1.26, MAC AORs 1.09, 1.2, and 1.1, respectively; all p < 0.0001). Treatment in the Midwest, South, or West was associated with decreased odds of receiving alternatives to general anesthesia compared to the Northeast (regional anesthesia AORs 0.28, 0.38, and 0.03, all p < 0.0001; MAC 0.76, 0.13, and 0.43, respectively; all p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Use of regional anesthesia and MAC with local anesthesia for arteriovenous access creation has decreased over time with general anesthesia remaining the primary anesthetic type. Anesthetic choice, however, varies with patient characteristics and geography.

Pro-Con Debate: Peripheral Nerve Blockade Should Be Provided Routinely in Extremity Trauma, Including in Patients At Risk for Acute Compartment Syndrome

In this Pro-Con commentary article, we discuss the controversial debate of whether to provide peripheral nerve blockade (PNB) to patients at risk of acute extremity compartment syndrome (ACS). Traditionally, most practitioners adopt the conservative approach and withhold regional anesthetics for fear of masking an ACS (Con). Recent case reports and new scientific theory, however, demonstrate that modified PNB can be safe and advantageous in these patients (Pro). This article elucidates the arguments based on a better understanding of relevant pathophysiology, neural pathways, personnel and institutional limitations, and PNB adaptations in these patients.

Staged autogenous to prosthetic hemodialysis access creation strategy to maximize forearm options

OBJECTIVE

When an adequate cephalic vein is not available for fistula construction, surgeons often turn to basilic vein or prosthetic constructions. Single-stage forearm prosthetic hemodialysis accesses are associated with poor durability, and upper arm non-autogenous access options are often limited by axillary outflow failure, which inevitably drives transition to the contralateral arm or lower extremity. We hypothesized that initial creation of a modest flow proximal forearm arterial-venous anastomosis to dilate ("develop") inflow and outflow vessels, followed by a planned second-stage procedure to create a cannulation zone with a prosthetic graft in the forearm, would result in reliable and durable hemodialysis access in patients with limited options.

METHODS

We performed an institutional cohort study from 2017 to 2021 using a prospectively maintained database supplemented with adjudicated chart review. Patients without traditional autogenous hemodialysis access options in the forearm underwent an initial non-wrist arterial-venous anastomosis creation in the forearm as a first stage, followed by a second-stage interposition graft sewn to the existing inflow and venous outflow segments to create a useable cannulation zone in the forearm while leveraging vascular development. Outcomes included time from second-stage access creation to loss of primary and secondary patency, frequency of subsequent interventions, and perioperative complications.

RESULTS

The cohort included 23 patients; first-stage radial artery-based (74%) configurations were more common than brachial artery-based (26%). Mean age was 63 years (standard deviation, 14 years), and 65% were female. Median follow-up was 340 days (interquartile range [IQR], 169-701 days). Median time to cannulation from second-stage procedure was 28 days (IQR, 18-53 days). Primary, primary assisted, and secondary patency at 1 year was 16.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.3%-45.8%), 34.6% (95% CI, 15.2%-66.2%), and 95.7% (95% CI, 81.3%-99.7%), respectively. Subsequent interventions occurred at a rate of 3.02 (IQR, 1.0-4.97) per person-year, with endovascular thrombectomy with or without angioplasty/stenting (70.9%) being the most common. There were no cases of steal syndrome. Infection occurred in two cases and were managed with antibiotics alone.

CONCLUSIONS

For patients without adequate distal autogenous access options, staged prosthetic graft placement in the forearm offers few short-term complications and excellent durability with active surveillance while strategically preserving the upper arm for future constructions.

Regional Anesthesia for Vascular Surgery and Pain Management

Patients undergoing vascular surgery tend to have significant systemic comorbidities. Vascular surgery itself is also associated with greater cardiac morbidity and overall mortality than other types of noncardiac surgery. Regional anesthesia is amenable as the primary anesthetic technique for vascular surgery or as an adjunct to general anesthesia. When used as the primary anesthetic, regional anesthesia techniques avoid complications associated with general anesthesia in this challenging patient population. In this article, the authors describe regional anesthetic techniques for carotid endarterectomy, arteriovenous fistula creation, lower extremity bypass surgery, and amputation.

Vaginal Hysterectomy Performed Under General Versus Neuraxial Regional Anesthesia: Comparison of Patient Characteristics and 30-Day Outcomes Using Propensity Score-Matched Cohorts

OBJECTIVES

Compared with surgery under general anesthesia (GA), surgery under neuraxial regional anesthesia (RA) has been associated with economic and clinical benefits in certain populations. Our aim was to compare preoperative and postoperative characteristics and 30-day outcomes, including intraoperative complications, for patients undergoing benign vaginal hysterectomy under GA versus RA.

METHODS

This is a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent vaginal hysterectomy for benign indications between 2015 and 2019 using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Patients were identified using Current Procedural Terminology codes and stratified into GA and RA groups. Propensity score matching was performed to account for selection bias between anesthesia groups.

RESULTS

Of 18,030 vaginal hysterectomies performed during this study period, 17,472 (96.9%) were performed under GA and 558 (3.1%) under RA. The RA group was older, more likely to be White, and more likely to have a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic steroid use (P < 0.01 for all); they were less likely to be discharged the same day (8.6% vs 12.2%, P = 0.01). In the matched cohort, there were similar proportions of major, minor, and composite complications between RA and GA groups (major: odds ratio [OR], 0.95; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.51-1.78; minor: OR, 1.18; 95% CI, 0.74-1.88; composite: OR, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.75-1.64). Similar proportions of same-day discharge were observed (OR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.47-1.10).

CONCLUSIONS

Although RA comprises only 3% of the anesthetic modalities used for benign vaginal hysterectomies, it is associated with a similar incidence of postoperative complications compared with general anesthesia.

OUP accepted manuscript

Background

The relationship between anaesthetic technique and graft patency after open lower limb revascularization is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between 30-day graft patency after elective infrainguinal bypass and anaesthetic technique (regional anaesthesia (RA, i.e. neuraxial and/or peripheral nerve blockade) compared with general anaesthesia (GA)).

Methods

Patients who underwent elective infrainguinal bypass in the 2014–2019 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Vascular Procedure Targeted Lower Extremity Open data set were included. Excluded patients were those under 18 years old, those who did not receive RA or GA, and/or had an international normalized ratio of 1.5 of greater, a partial thromboplastin time more than 35 s, or a platelet count less than 80 × 10⁹/L. The primary outcome was primary graft patency without reintervention. The relationship between anaesthetic technique and patency was analysed with multivariable logistic regression.

Results

Included were 8893 patients with a mean(s.d.) age of 68(11) years and 31.5 per cent female. Within the cohort, 7.7 per cent (n = 688) patients received RA only, 90.4 per cent (n = 8039) GA only, and 1.9 per cent (n = 166) both GA and RA. In the RA-only group, 91.7 per cent (631 of 688) received neuraxial anaesthesia. The primary patency rate was 93.2 per cent (573 of 615) for RA only, and 91.5 per cent (6390 of 6983) for GA only (standardized mean difference, 0.063). RA was not associated with a higher rate of patency compared with GA (adjusted OR, 1.16; 95 per cent c.i., 0.83 to 1.63; P = 0.378).

Conclusion

There was no association between anaesthetic technique and 30-day graft patency after elective infrainguinal bypass surgery. Further prospective studies would be useful to study the impact of anaesthesia technique on important patient-centred outcomes such as long-term patency and non-home discharge.

Regional Anesthesia Use in Pediatric Burn Surgery: A Descriptive Retrospective Series

Pediatric burns are a common and often devastating injury. Treatment, reconstruction, and rehabilitation are painful experiences. For some, the experience triggers post-traumatic stress disorder and/or a chronic pain syndrome. Given the role pain plays as a major secondary disease, it must be addressed to achieve optimal healing. Regional anesthesia has been used extensively to manage postoperative pain and reduce the need for opioids following other surgical procedures in children. However, regional anesthesia is not widely used in pediatric burn care. We present a descriptive, retrospective case series of 15 pediatric burn patients who received regional anesthesia as part of their intra-operative pain management. In our patient population, we saw low levels of anesthetic as well as opioid usage with well-controlled pain. In this cohort, 93% of patients scored a 0/10 on the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry and Consolability (FLACC) scale for pain by post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) discharge, with an average PACU stay of 70 minutes. Thirty-three percent of patients received no opioids, with the average opioid dose being 0.06mg/kg morphine equivalents. This case series serves to make clinicians aware of the feasibility of use and benefits of regional anesthesia in pediatric burn patients requiring operative repair.

Maturation and Patency Rates in Basilic Transposition Arteriovenous Fistula Under Regional Versus General Anesthesia: A Single-Center, Retrospective, Observational Study

Background Basilic transposition arteriovenous fistula (BT AVF) is a viable option for dialysis-dependent patients, which can be performed under either general or regional anesthesia. Regional anesthesia is reported to cause vascular dilatation during the perioperative period, leading to improved fistula success. Regional anesthesia is also considered safe as compared to general anesthesia in terms of hemodynamic stability. Limited and conflicting data are available comparing regional versus general anesthesia in terms of fistula maturation and patency. We aimed to compare the maturation, one-year patency rates, and complication rates in patients undergoing single-stage BT AVF in regional versus general anesthesia. Methods This retrospective observational study was conducted on patients undergoing single-stage BT AVF from January 2016 to December 2019. Patients were divided into regional (RA) vs. general anesthesia (GA) groups and compared in terms of maturation, one-year patency, and perioperative complication rates. Results Out of 152 patients, 110 (72.37%) were in GA while 42 (27.63%) were in the RA group. Elderly, female, diabetic, ischemic heart disease, and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class IV patients were more in the RA group. Other comorbid and vascular access-related factors were comparable between the groups. A trend toward higher maturation rates (97.6% vs. 92.1%) and one-year patency rates (62.5% vs. 56.6%) was observed in the RA vs. GA group, however, the difference did not attain statistical significance, p=0.359 and p=0.327, respectively. The rate of access abandonment was higher in the GA group (43.4% vs. 37.5%). The most prevalent cause of abandonment was death in the RA group while it was access failure in the GA group. Overall complication rates were comparable between both groups (20.2 % vs. 17.5%, p=0.816). Conclusion Regional anesthesia is a useful technique with potentially improved maturation and patency rates. Nevertheless, an assumed benefit of regional anesthesia in terms of anesthesia-related complications was not observed.