The influence of cephalic vein diameter and diabetes on primary maturation and patency of autogenous radiocephalic arteriovenous fistulas

Objective: This study identified predictors affecting maturation and patency of autogenous radiocephalic arteriovenous fistulas (RCAVFs). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the prospectively collected clinical data of all patients who underwent primary RCAVF creation and evaluated the effect of clinical variables and findings of preoperative duplex ultrasound mapping on primary maturation and patency rates of RCAVFs. Results: From August 2008 to December 2010, 383 vascular access procedures were performed in 371 patients; of these, 331 (86.4%) were autogenous AVFs, 283 (85.5%) were primary first AVFs, and 186 (65.7%) of these were RCAVFs. The primary maturation rate was 88.2% at a mean of 39 +/- 24.1 days after the operation. By multiple logistic regression analysis, minimum cephalic vein (CV) diameter >2 mm was an independent predictor of RCAVF maturation (odds ratio, 3.672; 95% confidence interval, 1.394-9.673; P = .008), which was more easily achieved in nondiabetic patients. During the mean follow-up of 47.2 +/- 23.1 months, primary patency of RCAVFs was 80.3% at 1 year and 76.5% at 2 years. A Cox proportional hazard model showed diabetes was the only independent risk factor of primary patency (hazard ratio, 2.008; 95% confidence interval, 1.022-3.945; P = .043). Nondiabetic patients with a CV diameter >2 mm had significantly higher primary maturation rate and higher primary patency than diabetic patients with a CV diameter <= 2 mm. Conclusions: There were different risk factors affecting RCAVF primary maturation and primary patency. A CV with a small-diameter of <= 2 mm combined with diabetes was an independent risk factor of failure not only of primary maturation but also of primary patency in RCAVF.