Vascular access in the obese: superficialisation of native radio-cephalic and brachio-cephalic fistulae

Superficialization methods of arteriovenous fistula in obese patients: a review of the literature: Arteriovenous fistula in obese patients

BACKGROUND

The creation of an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) in obese patients with end-stage-renal-disease, might not lead to a successful hemodialysis session, partly due to excess adipose tissue overlapping the enlarged vein. This review summarizes the available evidence on superficialization methods in studies dealing with obese patients.

METHODS

An English-language literature search was undertaken in the MEDLINE/SCOPUS databases looking for publications that described procedures of salvaging autologous arteriovenous access in upper extremities of obese patients. Perioperative outcomes including technical and clinical success, mean vein depth reduction, wound complications and patency rates were compared within all identified techniques.

RESULTS

We identified 12 prospective and 8 retrospective studies. A total of 1149 patients with a mean age 57.2 (range: 49-68) years and a mean BMI 35.8 (range: 28.2-40.8) kg/m² underwent mainly radial-cephalic and brachial-cephalic AVF superficialization procedures [transposition, 54%; elevation, 11.1%; lipectomy, 26.1%; liposuction, 2.4%; implantation of a venous window needle guide device, 6.4%]. Technical success was similar between all methods (≥ 96%). However, successful cannulation was lower after liposuction and elevation (81.5 and 78.1% respectively). Transposition achieved lower mean vein depth reduction and clinical success when compared with lipectomy (4.9mm vs 8.8mm and 90% vs 92,7% respectively). Transposition and liposuction had the lowest and highest complication rate respectively (1.6% vs 40.8%). Primary and secondary patency rates were lower with liposuction (51.8 and 76.6% respectively), while lipectomy and elevation achieved the highest primary patency rates (68.3% and 71.6% respectively) at 12 months.

CONCLUSIONS

In obese patients, all superficialisation techniques report high technical success rates. Although limited by the design of individual published studies and lack of a standard for reporting outcomes, these results lead to satisfactory postoperative and early outcomes. In aggregate, lipectomy and transposition are more clinically effective and more durable procedures.

Early Experience with Sine Wave Technique for Superficialization of a difficult to cannulate Arterio Venous Fistula

OBJECTIVE

To highlight safety and efficacy of sine wave technique (SWT) in superficializing deep arterio venous fistula (AVF) and managing infiltrations and other complications.

METHODS

It is a single center observational study done from Jul 2017 to July 2020. All successive cases of deep AVFs, aneurysm / pseudoaneurysms of AVFs, and AVFs requiring open venoplasty were managed with SWT. Data was collected prospectively and analyzed. SWT is based on random pattern skin flaps. Using ultrasound, a line is marked on either side of centre line (AVF) at a distance of approximately 1.5-2 cm. A sine wave is drawn starting from either of the lines to the other with multiple crests and troughs. The base of flap should be double the height of the flap, that is, about 3-4 cm. Skin is incised and flaps are raised at level of AVF. Excess fat is removed. A sliver of unhealthy skin can be sacrificed if required. Flaps are sutured back to restore sine wave continuity.

RESULTS

SWT was used in a total of eleven patients. Median age was 58 years (range 10-67 years). Eight were females and three males. One was radio-cephalic and rest were brachio-cephalic AVFs. Eight AVFs were deep with median depth of 10.25mm (range 8-13mm), median body mass index of 25.5 kg/m² (range 23.9-26.5kg/m²), median vein diameter of 7 mm (range 6-8 mm), and median flow rate of 1137.5ml/min (range 650- 1380 ml/min). Out of eight, four AVFs presented with infiltration. In other three, SWT was used for exposing AVF to treat underlying pathology (one case each of aneurysm, pseudoaneurysm & stenosis). Ten cases were done under local or regional anesthesia and one under general anesthesia. There was no peri-operative mortality or loss of AVF. Transient limb oedema developed in one case. Median time to cannulate was 20 days (range 13-28 days). Median follow up was 13 months (range 6 - 31months). Cumulative patency at 18 months was 90% (95% CI 47.3%-98.53%) and 45 % (95% CI 9.9%-87.1%) at 24months and at the end of the study.

CONCLUSION

SWT is safe and effective in superficialization of deep / difficult to cannulate AVF as well a good approach to treat complications like infiltration. Post procedure cannulation time is reasonably short.

Endoscopic Superficialisation of Haemodialysis Arteriovenous Fistulas in Obese Patients - Safety, Feasibility, and Outcomes

OBJECTIVE

The aim was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of endoscopic superficialisation (ES) in patients with deeply located cephalic veins in well matured arteriovenous fistulae (AVF) and to present functional outcomes.

METHODS

All patients with cannulation difficulties due to a deep lying cephalic vein of more than 6 mm but with an otherwise matured AVF with a straight needle access segment of at least 6 cm were included in this retrospective study. Procedure related safety, defined as completion of ES with no need for conversion to open surgery, and feasibility in terms of cephalic vein depth reduction were assessed. The primary endpoint was three successfully performed haemodialysis sessions using the endoscopically superficialised AVF during a minimum follow up of 12 months.

RESULTS

From June 2013 to August 2017, 12 patients with a mean body mass index of 33.5 ± 3.9 kg/m² underwent ES as a second stage procedure following radiocephalic (n = 5) or brachiocephalic AVF (n = 7) creation. All procedures were conducted endoscopically. Ultrasound imaging 12 weeks post-operatively documented a reduction in the depth of the cephalic vein from a mean of 10.1 ± 1.4 mm to 4.3 ± 0.8 mm. The mean duration of the ES was 69 ± 26.0 min with 67% performed under locoregional anaesthesia. In all but one patient with a cephalic vein of poor wall quality leading to recurrent haematoma, haemodialysis was performed successfully following ES.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic superficialisation of the cephalic vein is a safe and effective technique. Providing good functional results, ES represents an alternative approach for second stage superficialisation in obese patients.

One-stage lipectomy superficialization of deep cephalic veins in comparison with secondary lipectomy in arteriovenous dialysis fistula

OBJECTIVE

Lipectomy is an acceptable method of cephalic vein superficialization in hemodialysis arteriovenous fistula. However, limiting it to be a secondary procedure may prolong time between fistula creation and successful cannulation posing more risk of central venous catheter use.

AIM

The aim of this study is to evaluate primary surgical lipectomy performed at the time of arteriovenous fistula creation in comparison with secondary lipectomy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between June 2015 and January 2017, 59 adult end-stage renal disease patients were allocated non-randomly to group I, 35 patients had arteriovenous fistula with primary lipectomy of forearm or arm deep cephalic veins, and group II, 24 patients who had secondary lipectomy of deep forearm or arm cephalic veins after primary arteriovenous fistula.

RESULTS

Mean body mass index was 28.2 ± 3.2 kg/m² versus 29.4 ± 2.5 kg/m² in group I versus II, respectively. Mean time from fistula creation to cannulation was 6 ± 0.5 weeks in group I versus 14.5 ± 5.5 weeks in group II (p < 0.0001*). Immediate technical success was achieved in all cases in both groups. Clinical success was 94.29% (33/35) versus 91.67% (22/24) in group I versus II, respectively. Cumulative 1-year primary patency rate was 88% in primary and 86.47% in secondary lipectomy; p = 0.842.

CONCLUSION

Lipectomy is a minimally invasive procedure carried out through small incision(s). Primary and secondary lipectomy procedures have few complications, and acceptable technical and clinical success rates. Primary lipectomy has the advantage to hasten fistula use and diminish central venous catheter dependency.

Lipectomy Technique as a Second-stage Procedure for Primarily Matured, Deep Outflow Vein in Obese Individuals

Prevalence of obesity is growing in the general population as well as among end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients requiring dialysis. Obesity often leads to a situation when a mature outflow vein is located deeper than 6 mm and is difficult to cannulate. These obese patients usually require additional procedures to able to successfully cannulate the fistula. The available surgical options include: outflow vein elevation, liposuction, and lipectomy. We present a case of a 57-year-old obese female with ESRD and matured, deeply running, inadequate for cannulation arteriovenous fistula. We present a technique of lipectomy with wide resection of adipose tissue from superior and lateral surfaces of outflow vein. Postoperatively, the skin without the underlying adipose tissue collapses allowing easy cannulation of the long segment of outflow vein with two needles. Lipectomy of mature but deeply located outflow vein is a second-stage elective procedure. Wide resection of adipose tissue helps create easy to access cannulation zone in obese individuals.

One-stage operation for superficialization of native radio-cephalic fistula in obese patients

Purpose:

The population of obese patients is increasing in general and also at hemodialysis initiation. For successful cannulation of arteriovenous fistula, the National Kidney Foundation-Dialysis Outcome Quality Initiative guidelines suggest that the required maturation parameters are at a depth of <6 mm. There are several reports describing two-stage superficialization of arteriovenous fistulas in obese cases. Therefore, we investigated the utility and complications of one-stage superficialization of radio-cephalic fistula.

Methods:

From January 2011 to March 2017, we simultaneously performed forearm radio-cephalic fistula creation and superficialization of the cephalic vein for 10 patients having obesity (body mass index > 30 kg/m2) and deep cephalic vein (>6 mm). Initially, an arteriovenous anastomosis was created at an appropriate site. Subsequently, an 8–10 cm longitudinal skin incision was made along the lateral aspect of the forearm cephalic vein. The cephalic vein was identified and exposed. The cephalic vein was repositioned superficially.

Results:

The mean age of the patients was 53 years (range: 40–72 years) and the mean body mass index was 40.2 kg/m2 (33.1–59.7 kg/m2). The cause of renal failure in eight patients was diabetic nephropathy, and in two patients, it was unknown. After the procedure, vein depth became 3.4 mm (1.9–4.6 mm) from 8.2 mm (6.0–13.4 mm). All patients who initiated dialysis underwent successful two-needle cannulation. Primary patency rate was 71.4% at 12 months (two patients underwent percutaneous transluminal angioplasty) and secondary patency rate was 100%. There was one procedure-related complication and delayed wound healing, which was improved by observation without antibiotics.

Conclusion:

This small series of patients indicates that one-stage superficialization of radio-cephalic fistula is a safe and effective option to start hemodialysis in obese subjects.