title: Long-term outcomes of a fistula initiative: sustaining "fistula culture".
abstract: From 1998 to 2003, a low cost fistula initiative at Allegheny General Hospital increased the rate of AV fistulas from 32% to 72%. We present an additional 25 months of vascular access data, with stratification of results by gender and long-term patient survival data. These data show the self-sustaining nature of 'fistula culture' in an urban hemodialysis unit, and the survival benefits that result from increased fistula rates.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, West Penn Allegheny Health System, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. rmcgill@wpahs.org
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: McGill
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Marcus
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Healy
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nye
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Brouwer
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Sandroni
mesh_terms: D001166:Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002404:Catheterization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006436:Hemodialysis Units, Hospital; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010414:Pennsylvania; D011183:Postoperative Complications