Long-term performance of the hemodialysis reliable outflow (HeRO) device: the 56-month follow-up of the first clinical trial patient

Early cannulation of the Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow graft

OBJECTIVE

In complex dialysis patients, central venous stenosis may preclude additional upper extremity access options. The Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow graft (Merit Medical Systems, Inc.) can bypass this stenosis providing patients with an additional upper extremity long-term access option. We report our experience with early-cannulation Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow grafts and compare them to traditional Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow grafts.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed all patients undergoing Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow graft placement from 1 January 2013 through 15 August 2017 at our institution and compared those undergoing placement of traditional Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow grafts and simultaneous tunneled dialysis catheter insertion to those undergoing Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow graft placement using an early-cannulation Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow graft without a tunneled dialysis catheter.

RESULTS

A total of 88 patients had 98 Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow grafts inserted throughout this time period. Of these, 61 (62%) were early-cannulation Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow grafts, while 37 (38%) were traditional Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow grafts. Primary, primary-assisted, and secondary patency rates at 1 year were higher for the traditional Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow graft cohort (53.1% vs 25.2%, p < 0.01; 70.1% vs 30.5%, p < 0.01; and 80.4% vs 55.4%, p = 0.07, respectively). There was no difference in the rate of postoperative hematoma, seroma, pseudoaneurysm formation, steal syndrome, or overall graft thrombosis between the two cohorts. Early-cannulation Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow grafts required earlier reintervention for thrombosis and earlier reintervention for any cause when compared to traditional Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow grafts (146 ± 184 days vs 417 ± 272 days, p < 0.01, and 123 ± 169 days vs 401 ± 311 days, p < 0.01, respectively).

CONCLUSION

In complex dialysis patients, early-cannulation Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow grafts have significantly lower 1-year primary and primary-assisted patency rates and require earlier reintervention to maintain this patency compared to traditional Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow grafts.

Safety and efficacy of a modified HeRO dialysis device in achieving early graft cannulation: A single-institution experience

Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow (HeRO) grafts (Merit Medical Systems, Inc, South Jordan, Utah) provide a means for access in catheter-dependent hemodialysis patients but typically require several weeks for tissue incorporation. Modifying the HeRO graft with an ACUSEAL graft (W. L. Gore & Associates, Newark, Del) can allow immediate cannulation, thus reducing catheter dependence time and its associated complications. A retrospective review of patients at our institution from 2013 to 2016 who underwent placement of a modified HeRO dialysis system with ACUSEAL graft was performed. Complications and outcomes were analyzed, with patency rates and hours to successful cannulation being major end points. Modified HeRO grafts were successfully placed in 10 catheter-dependent patients. Postoperative complications included two thromboses and one hematoma. At 6 months of follow-up, mean time to graft cannulation was 33.7 hours, with 100% success; the primary and secondary patency rates were 70% and 90%, respectively. Our modification allows an accelerated use of the HeRO system, reducing catheter dependence time with acceptable postoperative complications and patency rates.

Placement of Upper Extremity Arteriovenous Access in Patients with Central Venous Occlusions: A Novel Technique

BACKGROUND

Central venous occlusion is a common occurrence in patients with end-stage renal disease. Placement of upper extremity arteriovenous access in patients with occlusion of the brachiocephalic veins is often not an option. Avoidance of lower extremity vascular access can decrease morbidity and infection.

METHODS

The central venous lesions were crossed centrally via femoral access. The wire was retrieved in the neck extravascularly. A Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow catheter was then placed in the right atrium and completed with an arterial anastomosis.

RESULTS

We describe a novel technique for placing upper extremity arteriovenous access in patients with occlusion of the brachiocephalic veins. This technique was utilized in 3 patients. The technical success was 100%.

CONCLUSIONS

The placement of upper extremity arteriovenous access in patients with central venous occlusions is technically feasible.

The Use of HeRo Catheter in Catheter-dependent Dialysis Patients with Superior Vena Cava Occlusion

Objectives

Hemodialysis (HD) patients with superior vena cava (SVC) occlusion have limited access options. Femoral access is commonly employed but is associated with high complication rates. Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow (HeRO) catheters can be used in tunneled catheter-dependent (TCD) patients who have exhausted other access options. The HeRO graft bypasses occlusion and traverses stenosis with outflow directly into the central venous circulation. At our institution we have used the inside-out central venous access technique (IOCVA) to traverse an occluded vena cava for HeRO graft placement. We review our experience with this technique.

Methods

A retrospective chart review was conducted of patients with HeRO graft placement at our institution. All were dependent on a tunneled femoral dialysis catheter due to central venous occlusion (CVO). The IOCVA technique was used in each case. This technique was used as last resort for patients who had no other dialysis access option. Demographics, patency rates, complications, and mortality were recorded.

Results

A total of 11 HeRO grafts were placed in 11 patients from January 2012 to June 2013, with 100% technical success rate. Three grafts were ligated due to steal syndrome. Two grafts were lost due to thrombosis. Five of 11 patients experienced a 30-day complication. Three patients died within the follow-up period; however, none were directly related to the graft placement. Follow up range was 65-573 days; 5 of 11 grafts were used for dialysis at the end of the follow-up period. The 12-month patency rate was 30%.

Conclusions

HeRO grafts are one option for dialysis patients with CVO. There is, however, a high incidence of steal syndrome and other complications. These grafts should be offered as a final potential alternative to catheter dependence.

Vascular Access for Placement of Tunneled Dialysis Catheters for Hemodialysis: A Systematic Approach and Clinical Practice Algorithm

The role of interventional radiology in the overall management of patients on dialysis continues to expand. In patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), the use of tunneled dialysis catheters (TDCs) for hemodialysis has become an integral component of treatment plans. Unfortunately, long-term use of TDCs often leads to infections, acute occlusions, and chronic venous stenosis, depletion of the patient's conventional access routes, and prevention of their recanalization. In such situations, the progressive loss of venous access sites prompts a systematic approach to alternative sites to maximize patient survival and minimize complications. In this review, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each vascular access option. We illustrate the procedures with case histories and images from our own experience at a highly active dialysis and transplant center. We rank each vascular access option and classify them into tiers based on their relative degrees of effectiveness. The conventional approaches are the most preferred, followed by alternative approaches and finally the salvage approaches. It is our intent to have this review serve as a concise and informative reference for physicians managing patients who need vascular access for hemodialysis.

Multidisciplinary team approach to end-stage dialysis access patients

BACKGROUND

The hemodialysis reliable outflow (HeRO) access device is a permanent dialysis graft used in patients with central venous obstruction. Given the complexity of care related to end-stage dialysis access (ESDA) patients, a multidisciplinary approach has been used to achieve operative success of HeRO graft placement.

METHODS

The single-center retrospective review included adult patients that were seen in ESDA clinic who underwent a HeRO graft placement from September 2010-September 2014 under the care of a team consisting of a nephrologist, an interventional radiologist, and a surgeon. The effectiveness of the multidisciplinary approach was evaluated using outcome variables including successful HeRO graft placement, operative complications, the rate of obtaining central venous access, and advanced endovascular maneuvers performed by interventional radiology to obtain central venous access.

RESULTS

A multidisciplinary approach has been used in 33 ESDA patients. Access to the right atrium was achieved in 100% of cases. Fifty-eight percent of patients required advanced endovascular maneuvers in the interventional radiology suite to obtain central venous access. Successful HeRO graft placement was achieved in 94% (31 of 33) of the study population. No intraoperative complications were encountered. Median primary and secondary patency rates were 83 d (interquartile range: 45-170) and 345 d (interquartile range: 146-579) per HeRO graft placement, respectively. Primary and secondary patency rates at 60 d were 70% (23 of 33) and 79% (26 of 33), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

In this difficult patient population, a multidisciplinary team can provide a unique and collaborative approach to HeRO graft placement in patients with complex central venous outflow obstruction.

Report on the Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow (HeRO) experience in dialysis patients with central venous occlusions

OBJECTIVE

The Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow (HeRO) graft (Hemosphere/CryoLife Inc, Eden Prairie, Minn) has provided an innovative means to obtain hemodialysis access for patients with severe central venous occlusive disease. The outcomes of this novel treatment modality in a difficult population have yet to be clearly established.

METHODS

A retrospective review of HeRO graft placement from June 2010 to January 2012 was performed. Patient hemodialysis access history, clinical complexity, complications, and outcomes were analyzed. Categoric data were described with counts and proportions, and continuous data with means, ranges and, when appropriate, standard deviations. Patency rates were analyzed using life-table analysis, and patency rate comparisons were made with a two-group proportion comparison calculator.

RESULTS

HeRO graft placement was attempted 21 times in 19 patients (52% women), with 18 of 21 (86%) placed successfully. All but one was placed in the upper extremity. Mean follow-up after successful placement has been 7 months (range, 0-23 months). The primary indication for all HeRO graft placements except one was central vein occlusion(s) and need for arteriovenous access. Patients averaged 2.0 previous (failed) accesses and multiple catheters. Four HeRO grafts (24%), all in women, required ligation and removal for severe steal symptoms in the immediate postoperative period (P < .01 vs men). Three HeROs were placed above fistulas for rescue. All thrombosed <4 months, although the fistulas remained open. An infection rate of 0.5 bacteremic events per 1000 HeRO-days was observed. At a mean follow-up of 7 months, primary patency was 28% and secondary patency was 44%. The observed 12-month primary and secondary patency rates were 11% and 32%, respectively. Secondary patency was maintained in four patients for a mean duration of 10 months (range, 6-18 months), with an average of 4.0 ± 2.2 thrombectomies per catheter.

CONCLUSIONS

HeRO graft placement, when used as a last-resort measure, has been able to provide upper extremity access in patients who otherwise would not have this option. There is a high complication rate, however, including a very high incidence of steal in women. HeRO grafts should continue to be used as a last resort.

Balloon-assisted over-the-wire technique for placement of the venous outflow component of the Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow (HeRO) device

A modified technique for placement of the venous outflow component (VOC) of the Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow (HeRO) device (Hemosphere Inc, Minneapolis, Minn) is described. The purpose of the technique is to improve the system's trackability and facilitate device insertion in patients with central venous occlusion. Device preparation requires placement of a 6-mm × 4-cm angioplasty balloon within the leading end of the VOC. The leading 2 cm of the balloon are placed just distal to the radiopaque marker of the VOC. The balloon is inflated to profile and locked in this position within the leading end of the VOC. The VOC and balloon combination is advanced over the wire through the 20F peel-away sheath provided by the manufacturer. The described technique was used to successfully implant the HeRO device in 12 patients with central venous occlusion. This technique is recommended for placement of the VOC of the HeRO device in patients with central venous occlusions.