Arteriovenous Fistula After Kidney Transplantation in University Hospital Centre Osijek

Abstract

Aims: To examine the proportion of patients with thrombosis or surgical ligation of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) after kidney transplantation (TX) and to explore the time passed after the TX until the loss of AVF function. Patients and methods: The study design was historical cohort study. The study included all 123 patients (57.7 % men, median age 58 years, from 34 to 79) that underwent kidney TX in the University Hospital Centre Osijek during the first 10 years of practicing that kind of surgery in the hospital. The data on AVF function, thrombosis or ligation were undertaken from medical records, along with demographics (age, gender, time after TX). The data were presented descriptively and after statistical analysis that was performed using SPSS (version 17.0). Results: FunctionalAVF immediately prior to TX was found in 78 % of the patients. The AVF was still functional in 39.84 % of all patients for 3 years (median, interquartile range, IQR 0 – 3) after TX. AVF thrombosis happened in 17.89 %, while surgical ligation was performed in 20.33 % of all patients. The most common reason for ligation was increased risk of heart failure (in 75 % of the ligations), followed by aneurysmatic dilatation and arm swelling. Median time after TX to thrombosis or ligation of AVF was 2 years, IQR 0 – 3. Thrombosis or ligations were significantly more frequent in women. The outcome of AVF after kidney TX was not related to the patient’s age. Conclusion: AVF after kidney TX often became nonfunctional, either after spontaneous thrombosis or after surgical ligation, which was required for increased heart failure risk in the majority of the cases.