Outcomes after surgical thrombectomy in occluded vascular access used for hemodialysis

Introduction: a well-functioning vascular access (VA) is essential for patients undergoing hemodialysis. Thrombosis is the leading cause of VA failure. Thrombectomy and the repair of the VA allow maintaining it functional and prolong its permeability. Thus, this approach remains the major goal toward access salvage and prolongation of patency rate. Objective: to describe the natural history of thrombosed VA for HD after urgent repair. Methods: retrospective, observational and single center study. All patients undergoing urgent surgery for VA thrombosis for HD, native and prosthetic, between 2013 and 2019, were included. Statistical analysis: in categorical variables, proportions and prevalence ratios were obtained; and in numerical variables, means, medians and standard deviation. Variable correlations, analysis of survival without failure (SWF) of the VA and log rank were performed. Results: during the study period we rescued 54 thrombosed, we included 48 patients. We rescued 22 native (45.8 %) and 26 prosthetic VA (54.2 %) by urgent thrombectomy. After urgent repair, the SWF was 49 % at 110 days (ES 0.07), 25 % at 478 days (ES 0.07) and 15 % at 659 days. Conclusions: there is a non-negligible percentage of VA that remain in use in the medium term after being rescued, allowing effective HD.