Long-term outcomes of a fistula initiative: sustaining "fistula culture".
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.
McGill
R L
RL
Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, West Penn Allegheny Health System, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. rmcgill@wpahs.org
Marcus
R J
RJ
Healy
D A
DA
Nye
S
S
Brouwer
D J
DJ
Smith
B C
BC
Sandroni
S E
SE
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