Arteriovenous graft patency outcomes and prognostic factors

ObjectivesArteriovenous graft for hemodialysis shows poorer outcomes than arteriovenous fistula, due to frequent stenosis and thrombosis. We investigated arteriovenous graft patency outcomes and prognostic factors for these outcomes.MethodsWe included a single-center cohort of patients receiving arteriovenous graft for hemodialysis access from 2010 to 2014. Demographics, laboratory data, comorbidities, and medications were collected from medical records. Surgical factors related to graft operation including the type and diameter of connected vessels, graft location, and type of operation (elective or emergency) were also recorded. Outcomes included primary and secondary patency. Survival analysis was conducted using the Kaplan-Meier method; univariate and multivariate analyses were used to evaluate the prognostic factors.ResultsData from 225 grafts were analyzed. During the follow-up period (mean: 583 days, range: 1–1717 days), 138 (61%) grafts required intervention and 46 (20%) permanently failed. Primar...