Current guidelines promote the use of the native arteriovenous fistula (AVF) as the first choice for access over grafts and central venous catheters. However, the prevalence of AVF use shows enormous differences among national, regional and local practice surveys, even after adjusting for demographics. In this review, we will briefly discuss these differences and present actions potentially improving outcome of vascular access care.
aDepartment of Nephrology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
bDepartment of Vascular Surgery, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
Corresponding author. Dr Peter J. Blankestijn, MD, PhD, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Room F03.223, P.O. Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Update on Renal Access and Transplantation – one of a series of educational articles edited by Mr Christopher Gibbons, Swansea, UK.
ABSTRACT