Early infection risk with primary versus staged Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow (HeRO) graft implantation.
OBJECTIVE
This study evaluated whether the use of a staged Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow (HeRO; Merit Medical, South Jordan, Utah) implantation strategy incurs increased early infection risk compared with conventional primary HeRO implantation.


METHODS
A retrospective review was performed of 192 hemodialysis patients who underwent HeRO graft implantation: 105 patients underwent primary HeRO implantation in the operating room, and 87 underwent a staged implantation where a previously inserted tunneled central venous catheter was used for guidewire access for the venous outflow component. Within the staged implantation group, 32 were performed via an existing tunneled hemodialysis catheter (incidentally staged), and 55 were performed via a tunneled catheter inserted across a central venous occlusion in an interventional radiology suite specifically for HeRO implantation (intentionally staged). Early infection was defined as episodes of bacteremia or HeRO infection requiring resection ≤30 days of HeRO implantation.


RESULTS
For staged HeRO implantations, the median interval between tunneled catheter insertion and conversion to a HeRO graft was 42 days. The overall HeRO-related infection rate ≤30 days of implantation was 8.6% for primary HeRO implantation and 2.3% for staged implantations (P = .12). The rates of early bacteremia and HeRO resection requiring surgical resection were not significantly different between groups (P = .19 and P = .065, respectively), nor were age, gender, laterality, anastomosis to an existing arteriovenous access, human immunodeficiency virus status, diabetes, steroids, chemotherapy, body mass index, or graft location. None of the patient variables, techniques, or graft-related variables correlated significantly with the early infection rate.


CONCLUSIONS
The staged HeRO implantation strategy did not result in an increased early infection risk compared with conventional primary implantation and is thus a reasonable strategy for HeRO insertion in hemodialysis patients with complex central venous disease.
Division of Vascular & Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC.
Andrew S
AS
Griffin
Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC.
Shawn M
SM
Gage
Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC.
Jeffrey H
JH
Lawson
Division of Vascular & Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC. Electronic address: charles.kim@duke.edu.
Charles Y
CY
Kim
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000295:instrumentation; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D062905:Central Venous Catheters; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010690:Phlebography / Q000379:methods; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D055815:Young Adult