Universal AVF Back-up for PD Patients Reduces HD Catheter Use

Should an arteriovenous fistula always be placed as a PD back-up for new patients? A retrospective study of two hospitals examined this question. Hospital RAH (n=142) did universal AVF back-up at PD start. Hospital PAH (n=232) did selective AVF back-up for “high risk” patients only. Yet, the transfer-to-HD rate at RAH was about half that of RAH (23% vs. 43%)—as was the HD catheter usage rate (33% vs. 65%; p<0.001), despite a population at RAH that was more likely to be older, Caucasian, and have diabetes.

Read the abstract » | (added 05-12-2020)